SPI Monitor May 2023

May 2023

Predominantly normal to below normal conditions were seen throughout the islands of the eastern Caribbean during the month of May. Trinidad and Grenada were predominantly normal ranging to slightly wet; Barbados, Dominica and Guadeloupe moderately dry to normal; St Vincent and Martinique moderate to slightly dry; Saint Lucia, St Maarten, Anguilla and St Thomas normal; Antigua predominantly normal to slightly dry; St Kitts moderately dry and St Croix predominantly moderate to severely dry. In the Guianas, conditions were mostly normal, ranging to moderately wet in the vicinity of the northern Guyana/Suriname border, and to moderately dry in northeastern French Guiana. Aruba and Curacao were moderate to slightly dry. Puerto Rico was predominantly normal, but slightly wet in the extreme west. The Dominican Republic ranged from moderately wet in the west and extreme east to extremely dry in central areas. Jamaica ranged from exceptionally dry in the west to moderately wet in the north and to normal in the east. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in the extreme west and southeast to normal in west central and eastern areas. Northern Bahamas ranged from extremely wet to normal and Belize ranged from normal in central areas to severely dry in the south and to slightly dry in the northeast.

March to May 2023

Apart from Trinidad that was mostly slightly wet to normal, conditions throughout the eastern Caribbean were predominantly normal to below normal during the three month period.; Grenada was normal to slightly dry; Barbados, Guadeloupe, St Kitts, St Maarten and Anguilla slightly dry to normal; St Vincent and St Croix extreme to moderately dry; Saint Lucia and Antigua normal; Martinique and Dominica slight to moderately dry; St Thomas slight to moderately dry. In the Guianas, conditions were mostly normal, ranging to extremely wet in northeastern Guyana and to exceptionally dry in southeastern French Guiana. Aruba was normal and Curacao moderately dry. Puerto Rico was predominantly normal ranging to moderately wet in the southeast. The Dominican Republic ranged from moderately wet in the west and east to exceptionally dry in central areas. Jamaica was predominantly normal, ranging to moderately dry in the south. Grand Cayman was moderately wet. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in western areas to slightly dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from exceptionally wet to normal and Belize was slightly dry in central areas ranging to extremely dry in the south and to moderately dry in the north.

December 2022 to May 2023

Mostly normal to below normal conditions were seen throughout the eastern Caribbean over the six month period. Trinidad and Grenada were normal to slightly dry; Barbados and St Maarten severely dry to normal; St Vincent extreme to moderately dry; Saint Lucia and Antigua normal; Martinique slight to extremely dry; Dominica and Guadeloupe normal to extremely dry; St Kitts normal to moderately dry; Anguilla moderately dry to normal and St Thomas moderate to slightly dry. Conditions in the Guianas ranged from exceptionally wet in the vicinity of the northern Suriname/French Guiana border to moderately dry in southeastern French Guiana.  Aruba and curacao were normal. Puerto Rico was moderately dry in the west to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west and east to exceptionally dry in central areas. Jamaica ranged from severely dry in the south to normal in the west and slightly dry in the east. Grand Cayman was slightly wet. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in the west to moderately dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from extremely wet to normal and Belize was mostly normal ranging to severely dry in the northeast.

June 2022 to May 2023

Mixed conditions were experienced over the twelve year period throughout the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad was exceptionally wet; Grenada slightly wet to normal; Barbados moderately dry to normal; St Vincent extreme to moderately dry; Saint Lucia was predominantly moderately wet, ranging from normal to very wet; Martinique slightly wet to moderately dry; Dominica normal to moderately wet; Guadeloupe slightly wet to slightly dry; Antigua, Anguilla, St Croix and St Thomas normal; St Kitts and St Maarten slightly dry to normal. The Guianas ranged from exceptionally wet to normal. Aruba was normal and curacao slightly wet. Puerto Rico ranged from extremely wet in the extreme northwest to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic was predominantly normal with slightly wet conditions on the northern coastline and eastern areas. Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the south to normal in the northwest. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in the west to severely dry in the east. Northern Bahamas was exceptionally wet to normal and Belize was predominantly normal, ranging from extremely dry in the south to slightly wet in the southeast.

June 2021 to May 2023

Predominantly normal to below normal conditions were seen over the two year period in the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad was mostly exceptionally wet; Grenada and St Thomas normal; Barbados severely dry to normal; St Vincent, Martinique and Antigua severe to moderately dry; Saint Lucia and Anguilla slightly dry to mostly normal; Dominica moderately dry to mostly normal; Guadeloupe normal to exceptionally dry; St Kitts normal to slightly dry; St Maarten moderately dry to normal and St Croix moderately dry. In the Guianas, conditions were mostly exceptionally wet ranging to moderately dry in northern Suriname and to exceptionally dry in the vicinity of the northern Suriname /French Guiana border. Aruba was normal and Curacao normal to slightly wet. Puerto Rico was mostly normal with moderately dry conditions in the southeast and moderately wet areas in the northwest. The Dominican Republic was mostly normal ranging to slightly dry in the southwest and to slightly wet on the northern coast. Jamaica was normal in central areas ranging to slightly dry in the west and to exceptionally dry in the east. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba was moderately wet in the west ranging to severely dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from exceptionally wet to normal. Belize was normal in central areas ranging to severely dry in the south and to moderately dry in the north.

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is provided with the understanding that The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the Outlook. The information may be used freely by the public with appropriate acknowledgement of its source, but shall not be modified in content and then presented as original material.