SPI Monitor September 2020

September 2020

The islands of the eastern Caribbean were predominantly normal to below normal during the month of September. Trinidad ranged from exceptionally dry in the southeast to exceptionally wet in northeastern areas; Tobago, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua, St Maarten, Anguilla, St Croix and St Thomas normal; Grenada slight to severely dry; St Vincent extreme to severely dry south to north; Saint Lucia slight to moderately dry; Martinique predominantly slightly dry with moderately dry areas in the extreme southwest; Guadeloupe was predominantly normal ranging to slightly wet in the extreme east. Conditions in the Guianas ranged from extremely dry in Southern Guyana and exceptionally dry in northeastern French Guiana to exceptionally wet in a small area in southern Suriname and northern French Guiana. Aruba slightly dry; Curacao normal to slightly dry in the north.  Puerto Rico ranged from slightly dry to normal west to east. Hispaniola ranged from moderately wet to moderately dry in a small area in the north and extreme east of the Dominican Republic. Jamaica was normal in southern and eastern areas ranging to moderately wet in the north and moderately dry in the extreme west. Grand Cayman was moderately dry. Cuba was moderately dry in the west, very wet in the east and exceptionally wet in west central areas. Northern Bahamas ranged from extremely wet to normal. Belize ranged from slightly dry in the south to severely dry in the west and slightly wet in the north.

July to September 2020

Mixed conditions prevailed throughout the eastern Caribbean over the three month period. Trinidad ranged from extremely dry in the southeast to exceptionally wet in the extreme northwestern tip; Tobago, Antigua, St Maarten, Anguilla, St Croix and St Thomas normal; Grenada moderately dry; Barbados normal to moderately wet south to north; St Vincent severe to moderately dry west to east; Saint Lucia, Martinique and Dominica moderately dry to normal; Guadeloupe slightly dry to normal; St Kitts normal to slightly wet. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from normal to exceptionally wet in north central French Guiana and to extremely dry in the extreme east of French Guiana. Aruba and Curacao were normal.  Puerto Rico ranged from moderate to slightly wet west to east. Hispaniola ranged from moderately wet to normal. Jamaica ranged from normal in the south and eastern areas to moderately wet in the northwest. Grand Cayman was slightly wet. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in west central areas to normal in the west and moderately wet in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from exceptionally wet to normal and Belize ranged from exceptionally dry in central areas to moderately dry in the south and north.

April to September 2020

Normal to below normal conditions prevailed throughout the eastern Caribbean during the six month period. Trinidad ranged from moderately dry in the southeast to normal in the northwest; Tobago slight to extremely dry; Grenada, St Kitts, slight to moderately dry; Barbados slightly dry in the extreme south to normal; St Vincent severely dry; Saint Lucia and Anguilla moderately dry; St Maarten moderate to slightly dry; Martinique moderate to extremely dry south to north; Dominica extreme to severely dry; Guadeloupe predominantly severely dry with moderately dry conditions in the extreme north; Antigua and St Croix slightly dry; St Thomas normal. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from moderately dry in the extreme north of Guyana to exceptionally wet in northeastern French Guiana. Aruba and Curacao were normal. Puerto Rico was normal. Hispaniola ranged from normal in northwestern and central areas to extremely dry in southeastern Dominican Republic. Jamaica was predominantly normal with moderately dry conditions on the southwestern border and moderately wet areas in the northwest. Grand Cayman was slightly dry to normal. Cuba ranged from slightly wet in the west and extremely wet in west central areas to normal in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from slight to exceptionally wet. Belize ranged from moderately dry in the south to severely dry in the southwest and normal in central and northern areas.

October 2019 to September 2020

Conditions in the eastern Caribbean were normal to below normal throughout the twelve month period. Trinidad ranged from slight to severely dry west to east; Tobago and Dominica slight to moderately dry; Grenada and St Croix moderately dry; Barbados extreme to slightly dry south to north; St Vincent exceptionally dry; Saint Lucia exceptional to extremely dry south to north; Martinique moderate to severely dry; Guadeloupe slight to exceptionally dry west to east; Antigua; Anguilla and St Thomas normal; Anguilla and St Maarten normal to slightly dry; St Kitts normal to slightly dry. Conditions in the Guianas ranged from predominantly normal to exceptionally dry in northern Guyana and northwestern French Guiana to severely dry at the central Suriname/French Guiana border, and to moderately wet in northeastern French Guiana. Aruba and Curacao were moderately dry. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to moderately wet in the northeast. Hispaniola ranged from normal in the west and extreme east to exceptionally dry in central Dominican Republic. Jamaica was predominantly normal with slightly dry conditions on the southern border. Grand Cayman was moderately dry. Cuba was predominantly normal with slightly wet conditions in the west and moderately wet areas in the north. Northern Bahamas ranged from exceptionally wet to normal; Belize ranged from normal in central areas to exceptionally dry in the west, moderately dry in the south and severely dry in the north.

October 2018 to September 2020

Normal to below normal conditions prevailed throughout the eastern Caribbean over the two year period. Trinidad and Martinique ranged from exceptional to moderately dry; Tobago moderate to extremely dry; Grenada moderately dry; Barbados and saint Lucia exceptional to extremely dry; St Vincent extremely dry; Dominica severe to slightly dry south to north; Guadeloupe normal to exceptionally dry west to east; Antigua normal, St Kitts normal to moderately dry; St Maarten slightly dry; Anguilla slight to moderately dry; St Thomas normal to slightly dry; St Croix severely dry. Conditions in the Guianas ranged from exceptionally wet in central Guyana to exceptionally dry in northern Guyana, and in the vicinity of the northern half of the Suriname/ French Guiana border. Aruba and Curacao moderately dry. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the extreme southwest to normal in eastern areas. Hispaniola ranged from slightly dry in a small area in western Dominican Republic to exceptionally dry in the extreme west and eastern areas. Jamaica was predominantly normal, ranging to extremely dry in the east. Grand Cayman was extremely dry. Cuba ranged from slightly wet in the west to exceptionally dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from exceptionally wet to extremely dry. Belize ranged from normal in a small central area to moderately dry in the extreme south and exceptionally dry in western and northern areas.

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.