SPI Monitor September 2012

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.

*Please note that from February 2012, the SPI calculations are relative to years 1961-2010*

 

Discussion

September 2012

Apart from St. Lucia and St. Croix that were normal, the islands of the eastern Caribbean had below normal rainfall for September. Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and St. Vincent were moderately dry; Barbados abnormally dry; Dominica exceptionally dry; and Antigua and Anguilla severely dry. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the north to moderately dry in the east. Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic were moderate to extremely dry. Rainfall in Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cuba was predominantly normal to abnormally wet. Cayman Islands was normal, while Belize ranged from severely dry in the west to exceptionally dry in the east.

July 2012 to September 2012

Apart from Barbados that was abnormally wet, the eastern Caribbean and Guyana were normal to below normal for the three month period. Trinidad and Grenada were moderately dry; Tobago, Dominica, St. Croix and Anguilla abnormally dry; St. Vincent extremely dry; Antigua severely dry; St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Guyana normal. Puerto Rico was normal, while the Dominican Republic was abnormally wet in the west and normal in the remainder of the country. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the west to moderately wet in the east. Apart from the central region that was moderately wet, Cuba was generally normal to abnormally wet. Cayman Islands was normal. Conditions in Belize were extremely dry in the west and exceptionally dry in the east.

April 2012 to September 2012

For the six month period, the eastern Caribbean and Guyana experienced a diverse mix of above normal to just below normal rainfall. Trinidad and Barbados were moderately wet; Tobago abnormally wet; Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, Anguilla, and Guyana normal; St. Vincent and Dominica abnormally dry; and St. Croix moderately dry. Puerto Rico was normal, whilet the Dominica Republic normal in northwest and southeast and abnormally wet elsewhere. Jamaica was normal in the west and abnormally wet in the east, but Cayman Islands very wet. Conditions in Belize ranged from moderately dry in the west to very wet in the north.

October 2011 to September 2012

Apart from St. Croix that was abnormally dry, the eastern Caribbean and Guyana were predominantly normal to above normal for the twelve month period. Trinidad, Tobago, St. Kitts and Anguilla were moderately wet; St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua normal; Grenada abnormally wet; Barbados very wet; and Guyana ranging from very wet in the north to abnormally wet to the south and east. Puerto Rico was moderately wet in the west and abnormally wet in the east, while the Dominica Republic ranged from moderately wet in the south to normal in the north. Apart from the eastern extreme that was abnormally wet, Jamaica was predominantly normal. Conditions in Cuba ranged from normal to very wet, but Cayman Islands was very wet. Conditions in Belize ranged from abnormally dry in the west to moderately wet in the north.