BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) says despite having entered into the wet season, the region is expected to continue to feel the effect of the present drought period as weak El Nino conditions are forecast to continue. 

In its latest Caribbean Climate Outlooks publication, the CIMH said for the period June to August this year, “drought is expected to continue into the wet season in areas currently affected, as weak El Niño conditions and less than the usual rainfall are forecast to persist throughout the season.

“More wet spells are expected throughout the region, except in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao (ABC islands). However possibly fewer than in most wet seasons. These spells may bring some level of drought relief, but also concern for flooding. Peak heat stress will most likely start in August with heatwaves in most countries,” CIMH said, adding that “episodes of Saharan dust incursion are expected”.

It said that for the period for the period September to November this year, the peak of the Caribbean wet season may be wetter than usual in the ABC islands, Bahamas, Belize, the Greater Antilles and the Leeward islands, but possibly drier than usual elsewhere. 

“Drought in the south eastern Caribbean may therefore persist, while it may ease up in other affected areas. Nevertheless, the average occurrence of extreme wet spells and corresponding flash flood potential peaks in this season. 

“Heat stress will likely peak in September and markedly decrease after October, with warmer temperatures forecast throughout the season and heatwaves probably occurring in many countries,” the CIMH said as it examined the Climate Outlook for the region. 

It said an El Niño tends to tilt the odds to warmer and drier conditions with less shower activity in most parts of the Caribbean.

“Note, however, that an El Niño maintaining into November could lessen these impacts during the later part of the season in the north western part of the region.” 

It said regarding climate conditions in the Tropical North Atlantic (TNA) and the Caribbean, sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) have remained around the seasonal average since 2019.

“The subtropical areas of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico have remained up to 1°C above average.

“Sustained warm SST anomalies north of the Caribbean are forecast to remain in place, while Caribbean Sea and TNA SSTs are expected to increase to slightly above average. Warm SSTs north of the Caribbean may lead to above-average humidity and atmospheric instability there. Those factors favour a wetter and warmer wet season in the north,” the CIMH added.