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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2014
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The tropical waves came in September 2014 and brought much needed rains to Belize. The first day was cloudy across the country. A tropical wave crossed the country the previous day and its associated moisture and instability produced light rain and thundershowers through to the first day of September. The second of September saw only isolated showers as the tropical wave moved farther west, away from the country.
Between the third and sixth of the month, a tropical wave approached and crossed the country. This was supported by upper-level instability. The entire country experienced showers and thunderstorms.
On the seventh, another tropical wave crossed the country. The accompanying showers and thunderstorms affected mostly northern parts of Belize. Lingering moisture and instability produced a few showers on the eight.
Moisture and instability increased again on the ninth as yet another tropical wave crossed Belize. Much showers and thunderstorms accompanied its passage. This wave was also accompanied by a great amount of moisture and in its wake the following three days saw much showers and periods of rain across the country. On the twelfth and thirteenth, mainly the south of the country experienced some showers and thunderstorms.
The fourteenth saw the passage of another wave. This produced showers and thunderstorms across the country. On the fifteenth and sixteenth, shower activity gradually died down. Between the seventeenth and nineteenth, no special features affected the country. Only isolated showers were observed.
An upper-level trough moved over Belize on the twentieth and sat there for the next three days. This supported showers and thunderstorms around the country, but especially over inland areas. On the twenty-third, a tropical wave added more showers to the already wet conditions.
As the trough and wave moved away from the area, a ridge moved in on the twenty-fourth. This maintained showery weather through to the twenty-fifth. Showery weather was further prolonged on the twenty-sixth as another tropical wave crossed the country.
Showers began to decrease on the twenty-seventh and continued so on the twenty-eight. During this time showers affected mainly the south at night and early morning. This trend continued through to the twenty-ninth. On the last day, a few showers and isolated thunderstorms were observed around the country.
In conclusion, six active tropical waves brought much needed rainfall to the country. These were enhanced by upper-level instability produced by a trough and a ridge. Data collected from around the country shows rainfall amounts were above the average for September at majority of the stations.
Monthly Weather Summary for November 2014
Our weather started out cloudy and cool for the first weekend in November. A cold front extended from eastern Cuba across western Cuba to northern Belize There was also a stationary front ahead which extended from Jamaica to Cape Gracias a Dios.A high pressure ridge(1032hPa) extended south across the central Gulf of Mexico to Belize and Central America. The cold front eventually merged with the stationary front during Sunday afternoon (2nd).
Variably cloudy and cool weather started the first full week in November as the influence of the high pressure ridge persisted. The surface flow over Belize was northerly to northeasterly. A stationary front extended from Haiti to the coast of Nicaragua during Monday (3rd).Belize sounding for that morning was dry. An inversion layer was detected near 750hPa.The weather turned out cool and dry. The cool northeasterly surface flow prevailed on Tuesday as rain and showers remained mostly offshore. Skies remained cloudy into the late evening as showers and light rain occurred. The high pressure ridge over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsulas produced an east to northeasterly surface flow over Belize and the western Caribbean. Our weather continued to be cool and mostly dry. Another cold front appeared on weather charts along the Texas Gulf Coast early Wednesday morning (5th). Cloudy skies (layered clouds) with embedded weak convection increased over northern parts of the country late Wednesday evening. A 1023hPa surface high over northern Florida/Georgia produced a northerly to northeasterly surface flow on Thursday(6th).The cold front was now over the northern Gulf of Mexico. During Thursday a few showers and periods of light rain along coastal areas moved inland after mid-morning. A high pressure ridge was noted over the western Gulf of Mexico on Friday(7th).The front was stationary from central Florida to the northwest Gulf of Mexico then south to the western Bay of Campeche. Sunny and dry weather prevailed across the country on Saturday (8th).On Sunday a cold front extended across the eastern Bay of Campeche and the northwest Yucatan Peninsula to a low pressure center over the Florida Straits. Another front was noted along the Texas coast.The surface flow over Belize was northwesterly. During the afternoon skies turned cloudy with satellite imagery showing bands of layered clouds coursing southeast across the mainland. A few brief showers occurred at the International Airport during the afternoon and evening as the cold front crossed Belize.
Weather conditions at the start of the second week in November turned out mostly sunny, dry and cool. A high pressure ridge across the Gulf of Mexico supported a dry east to northeasterly surface flow. During Wednesday (12th) skies were cloudy at times and satellite imagery suggested light showers over northern, central and offshore Belize. The tail portion of the front weakened to a surface trough from central Cuba to near northern Honduras. Thursday's weather (13th) turned out sunny as well. A cold front extended from Florida across the central Gulf of Mexico to near Tabasco, Mexico. A slack pressure gradient over the northwest Caribbean ensured light surface winds. During Saturday (14th) skies turned cloud across much of the country. The cloudiness started in the south first as a lingering surface trough (remnants of previous front) festered. For the rest of Saturday skies remained cloudy and showers occurred at several northern stations and the International Airport as well. Sunday's weather (16th) continued cloudy for central and northern Belize as a few showers and periods of light rain occurred. Weather conditions improved during the afternoon. Weather charts located a stationary front along the Texas Gulf coast and a stronger cold front further north over North-central Texas. The surface flow over Belize was easterly.
At the start of Monday (17th), the strong cold front over the northwest Gulf of Mexico extended from Louisiana to the northeast coast of Mexico. A dry and light southeasterly surface flow provided Belize with sunny and dry weather. A surface trough ahead of the front extended from 28°N83°W to 24°N89°W with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms east of the trough axis. An upper level ridge was anchored over the western Caribbean. Skies turned cloudy early Tuesday (18th) morning as showers and thunderstorms developed over northern and coastal areas. The International Airport recorded 83.5mm of rain for 9:00am.A rainfall station in the Orange Walk district measured 107.2mm for that morning. Though the showers decreased later, skies remained cloudy throughout the day. At 3:00pm the cold front extended through the Florida Straits and western Cuba to the Yucatan Peninsula to beyond 20°N88°W.The surface trough extended from 21°N84°W to the coast of Honduras near 16°N85°W.Strong ridging occurred over the western Gulf of Mexico behind the front. The cold front crossed northern Belize early Wednesday (19th) morning. Cool and cloudy weather with rainy weather for coastal areas characterized out weather during the morning. As the day wore on the rain clouds neared other areas of the coast to produce several periods of rain with isolated thunderstorms. The rainy weather persisted into to evening. The weather situation wasn't much different for at the start of Thursday (20th).The cloudy and rainy weather persisted. The stationary front extended from west central Cuba to the north coast of Honduras. The surface flow remained north to nottheasterly.Periodic outbreaks of rain showers occurred during the day. On Friday morning(21st) skies started out cloudy and the morning sounding for Belize appeared moist(precipitable water=59.97mm).the tail end of the stationary front evolved into surface trough across the Yucatan Straits to the coast of Belize. Though the surface flow continued light northeasterly, the cloudy sky conditions relented considerably. The weekend weather turned out quite sunny as an east to southeasterly airflow generated by an Atlantic surface high dominated.
Weather charts for the final Monday (24th) in the month showed a cold front on the Gulf coast of Texas, USA.For Belize our weather continues mostly sunny as the Atlantic surface high maintained the dry southeasterly airflow. Later on Monday, the cold front emerged over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. A pre frontal trough ahead of the front was over the north central Gulf of Mexico. The cold front headed southeast across the central Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. Late Tuesday evening the front extended from central Florida across a 1011hPa surface low over the northeast Gulf of Mexico to the Bay of Campeche. Satellite imagery revealed the steady development of line convection over the Yucatan Peninsula and western and northern Belize during the evening. These showers and thunderstorms resulted from the pre frontal trough aligned ahead over the northeast Yucatan Peninsula. The showers and thunderstorms headed east and southeast for coastal parts of the country through Wednesday morning (26th).Cloudy; cool and windy weather prevailed during the day. The cold front extended from southern Florida across the southeast Gulf of Mexico near 26°N82°W to western Cuba then to the coast of Belize near 16°N89°W.Ridging from a continental surface high(1029Pa) centred over northern Mexico supported a j gusty northerly t o northwesterly surface flow over Belize and coastal waters. San Pedro, Ambergris Cay recorded wind gusts to 32kts, while Cay Caulker recorded gusts to 27kts.Thursday's weather continued with relatively unchanged weather conditions (cloudy, windy and cool.) Periods of light to moderate rain occurred at sea and coastal areas as well as in the south. The front was now stationary form central Honduras across the western Caribbean to eastern Cuba before transitioning to a cold front over the Atlantic Ocean. Another cold front was over the central Gulf of Mexico early Friday morning(28th).The front extended from southern Florida then curved just north of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Texas Gulf coast near 27°N97°W.A surface high over the southeast United States continued produce ridging across the Gulf of Mexico and Belize. Our weather remained cloudy and windy with periods of light rain mainly over the sea, along the coast and in the south. The Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) pushed the second front across northern Belize Friday afternoon. This front extended from eastern Cuba across Belize to Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula. The stationary front was ahead and stretched from eastern Cuba, across Jamaica to offshore eastern Nicaragua. The second cold front merged with the stationary front early Saturday morning (29th).Though skies continued generally cloudy for southern Belize, elsewhere skies turned out quite sunny. Showers and the windy conditions from previous days subsided considerably. The continental surface high (1028hPa) centred near North Carolina maintained a cool north to northeasterly surface flow. The northeasterly flow produced cloudy skies Sunday morning (30th).Coastal showers started over coastal waters at the cayes close to midday, then spread too much of the coast during the afternoon and evening. The International Airport measured 113.5mm of rainfall. The rainfall was also excessive in Belize City, where localized flooding occurred at many locations.
Click on the link below for the Rainfall Summary for November,2014:
Total Rainfall for November,2014
Click on the link below for the Minimum Temperature Summary for November,2014:
Minimum Temperature for November,2014
Click on the link below for the Maximum Temperature Summary for November,2014:
Maximum Temperature for November,2014
Click on the links below for the dekadal Rainfall Summary for November,2014:
dekad31
dekad32
dekad33
On Ambergris Caye we've had strong squalls and a down-pouring of substantial amounts of rain.
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2014
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climatology shows that the main features influencing weather across the country of Belize in December are cold fronts, upper level troughs and the development of moist northeasterly airflows in the area. There were two frontal passages in December of 2014. Additionally, a few fronts stalled just north of the country resulting in persistent moist conditions over the area. The upper levels were mostly dry during the month.
The first day of December 2014 started out cloudy with showers and rain affecting most areas of the country as a moist northeasterly airflow dominated. The following day the flow became more northerly and slightly drier as a continental ridge west of the area dominated. The ridge continued to support a cool northerly to north-northeasterly airflow for the following four days. This supported generally cloudy skies across the country but showers were confined mostly to the south.
A cold front entered the northwest Gulf of Mexico later on the 6th and slowly began to make its way southeastward. The ridge associated with this front started to influence the flow over Belize on the 7th. The result was mostly sunny and dry conditions on that day. However by the 8th the cold front had advanced far enough south to produce a moist and convergent North to Northwesterly flow over Belize. This produced cloudy conditions with showers affecting mainly the south and offshore areas. Similar conditions occurred on the 9th. The slow moving cold front then crossed the country on the night of the 9th. It did not move very far out of the area causing weather over Belize to remain cloudy and wet for the following 5 days until the 14th. Additionally, strong high pressure ridge from the west combined with relatively low pressures over the Gulf of Honduras produced a gusty north to northeasterly airflow over the area during that time. This resulted in rough sea conditions and the cancellations of several cruise ships during that week.
Moisture decreased considerably on the 15th and this pattern continued through to the 18th. The result was mainly fair and dry weather across the country.
Weather would change again on the 19th when a trof of low pressure begun approaching the country from the east. This slow moving trof produced cloudy skies with light showers and periods of rain on the 19th and 20th.
By the 21st the trof axis was west of the area and this factor coupled with frontal lows developing in the northwest Gulf of Mexico, contributed to a relatively dry east to southeasterly airflow over Belize from the 21st through to the 24th. During that time a cold front was slowly making its way toward Belize. This was the second cold front to cross the country which happened early on Christmas day (before daybreak). Moisture increase associated with this front was not enough to produce significant rainfall over Belize. Moreover, upper level conditions were not supportive of deep convective activity. The result was mostly cloudy and cool conditions on Christmas day with showers and light rain confined mostly to the south and offshore areas.
Weather conditions cleared late on the 26th but became cloudy once more on the 27th. Clouds and rain decreased once more on the 28th, and the 29th was partly cloudy with only isolated showers.
On the last two days of the month, a cold front became stationary from Florida to the Bay of Campeche. This system along with broad trofing which developed over the Western Caribbean helped to support a relatively moist East to Northeasterly airflow over Belize on the 30th and the 31st. This caused skies to be cloudy at times with occasional showers affecting the country.
Overall rainfall for December 2014 was normal for most stations in the south and central areas of the country while stations in the north recorded above normal rainfall.
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
January 2015 began with relatively moist conditions across Belize. Ridging from a continental high pressure system over the South-Central, United States of America and a stationary front in the Gulf of Mexico, supported a moist east to north-easterly flow. For the first two days, this moist flow supported a few showers across the country. A gusty south-easterly set in on the third day, but moisture persisted and maintained a few showers around the country. The gusty south-easterly flow persisted on the fourth day and dried up the moisture.
However, on the fifth, another stationary front in the Bay of Campeche induced a backing of the winds and a moist north-easterly flow set in once again. This supported a few showers around the country. As the north-easterly flow persisted on the sixth and seventh day, showers became confined to the south of the country.
On the eighth day, a cold front reached as far south as Northern Belize. It supported an increase in showers across the country. This front quickly dissipated late on the same day. However, the associated shear line remained over Northern Belize on the ninth. The following day, it moved to Southern Belize and then into the Gulf of Honduras. From the ninth to the twelfth, this system supported showery weather across the country. The associated high pressure ridge over the Northwest Caribbean maintained a moist north-easterly flow, which supported cloudy and rainy weather on the thirteenth and fourteenth.
From the fifteenth to the twenty-third, weather conditions improved. Moisture levels decreased and showers became generally isolated, at times none at all. This was after a cold front slipped into the Gulf of Mexico earlier on the twenty-first and induced an east to south-easterly flow. Late on the twenty-third, pre-frontal activity supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over some inland and northern areas.
On the twenty-fifth, a cold front quickly crossed the country, accompanied by a few light showers. On the twenty-sixth, the associated high pressure ridge supported a dry and cool northerly flow. However, the following day saw cool and rainy weather. On the twenty-seventh night, another cold front quickly crossed the country, which supported cool and dry conditions through to the twenty-eight. Moisture levels increased on the twenty-ninth and persisted through to the end of the month. This supported showers mainly over southern Belize.
January in Belize falls in the transition period between the 'wet season' and 'dry season'. Climatologically, it is the coldest month of the year. Data collected this January, however, shows that minimum temperatures were above normal. On the other hand, data shows that rainfall was above normal. Even though three cold fronts affected the country, it is evident that the associated high pressure ridge did not supported the normal cool temperatures. On the other hand, the persistent moist, north-easterly flow that dominated for most of the month, supported above normal rainfall.
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
March 2015 was not as dry as dry as normal, and only one dissipating cold front reached Belize and stalled. The first two days of the month saw a few showers over some areas during the mornings, as a ridge to the north along 29/30N supported a moderate to fresh east-northeasterly surface flow, along with a weakly convergent upper pattern and northwest upper winds. Showers became isolated on Tuesday 3rd as moisture decreased, and the next two days were mostly sunny and dry. The surface flow veered a bit to the east and east-southeast and was gusty on the 4th. The upper pattern continued weakly convergent.
The presence of a cold front over the eastern Bay of Campeche and the associated ridging over southern Mexico on Friday 6th caused a backing of the surface flow to the east-northeast and a slight increase in moisture. The front dissipated on the 7th and a few showers developed mainly over northern portions of the country from the 6th to the 8th. Early morning fog was reported over some central low lying areas on the 8th, as the gradient slackened over our area. On Monday 9th, a low level wind surge moving in from the east resulted in some showery weather over central areas of the country. A total of 21.5mm of rain fell at the PGIA and 22.9 in Belize City. A gusty east-southeasterly surface and low level flow prevailed on the next two days then dropped off a bit on Thursday 12th. Showers were isolated over those three days (10th-12th).
On Friday 13th, a few showers developed mainly over central and northern areas as moisture and low level convergence increased moderately when cold front stalled from near New Orleans to the central Yucatan Peninsula along 90W. An upper trof to the west along 100w and a ridge over the Caribbean Sea resulted in a weakly divergent upper pattern over our area. Savannah recorded 16.8mm of rainfall; while Belmopan recorded 47.3mm. The portion of the front over the Yucatan Peninsula dissipated the next day, however a few showers continued over some areas from the 14th through the 18th as the surface flow varied between east and east-northeast. The moisture was generally low, but fluctuated sufficiently along with low level convergence to support the showers. The upper pattern continued weakly divergent through the 16th, then became weakly convergent on the 17th and 18th.
Showers became generally isolated on Thursday 19th, however Punta Gorda received 14.7mm of rain. A single isolated thunderstorm developed over the Vaca Plateau during the afternoon of Friday 20th. Mainly fair and dry weather prevailed from the 21st to 26th, with slightly warmer temperatures from the 24th to the 26th. The surface airflow was relatively dry and mainly from the east-southeast during that seven day period, with a neutral to weakly divergent upper pattern.
Friday 27th was sunny in the morning, then some showers and thunderstorms affected most areas during the evening and night as a pre frontal trof crossed the country. Pomona measured the most rainfall with 33.2mm; while Belmopan had 24.5mm and Punta Gorda got 20.5. The next day was cloudy over the west and south with some showers over the west and south, and over the northern Cayes later. Savannah reported rainfall totalling 68.7mm. The associated cold front weakened and the diffuse tail end drifted south over northern Belize during the afternoon of Saturday 28th then to central Belize the next day Sunday 29th. Some showers occurred over some parts of the coast in the morning then over most areas in the afternoon and evening, especially the Belize City area. Rainfall of 20.4mm was measured at the PGIA; while Belize City recorded 69.8mm and the Belize Zoo 67.9mm. The portion of the front over and just east of Belize dissipated altogether on Monday 30th and the last two days of the month saw decreasing shower activity, with a few showers mainly over the south on Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st. Most stations recorded some rainfall, with amounts ranging from 5-15mm.
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climatologically, the Atlantic High Pressure ridge usually dominates the region during the month of April. Its orientation typically produces a dry southeasterly airflow across the country. At times heat-lows may develop across southern Mexico which causes pressure gradients to tighten over the area resulting in gusty winds. However, when the centres of these systems are over or very near the country, pressure gradients would instead slacken causing light winds and an excessively high heat-index. This overall synoptic pattern for the month normally corresponds with dry and warm weather. The only relief would come in the form of an occasional cold front. On average about two cold fronts would cross the country during the month. These may be accompanied by strong to severe thunderstorms and they are the main producers of the little rainfall for the month. April 2015 was characteristically warm and dry. Only one cold front crossed the country on the very last day of the month.
The first day of the month started out cloudy at times with a few showers as a relatively moist easterly airflow dominated. The airflow continued easterly the following day but moisture decreased and only isolated showers were observed. A similar situation occurred on the 3rd. The flow shifted to the east to northeast on the 4th through to the 7th but moisture remained low and conditions were mainly fair and dry. The flow veered once more to the east on the 8th through to the 11th but weather conditions continued generally fair with only isolated showers across the country.
The characteristically warm and dry weather started on the 12th when heat lows over Mexico coupled with the Atlantic High Pressure ridge to the northeast of area caused the dry and gusty east to southeasterly airflow to set in. This pattern actually lasted until late in the month around the 26th. This resulted in warm and mostly dry weather with little to no rainfall across the country, except for an occasional afternoon thunderstorm in the interior. Temperatures increased significantly around the 21st and peaked around the 28th of the Month. Maximum temperatures in excess of a 100°F occurred over some inland areas on several days during this period.
The late-season cold front began approaching the country around the 28th. On that day a prefrontal trof over the area caused afternoon thunderstorms to flare up inland and over the northern districts. Thunderstorms once again flared up on the 29th but this time they moved across the country by nighttime as the cold front was getting nearer. The cold front was over Belize on the 30th and it produced a generally cloudy day. However, by that time most of the thunderstorm and shower activity were confined mainly to the Sea.
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
May first, 2015 was a cloudy and cool day across Belize. Minimal rainfall activity was observed. A ridge in the Gulf of Mexico supported a cool and moist north-easterly air flow, while a stationary front was observed from Northern Honduras to Cuba. On the second and third day, the ridge continued to support the moist north-easterly flow. As a result a few showers affected coastal areas.
From the fourth to the thirteenth, after the ridge collapsed, a dry and gusty (at times) east-south-easterly air flow developed. A the same time, a convergent pattern developed aloft.
On the fourteenth and fifteenth, the upper- levels became divergent over the southern areas of the country. As a result, night time thunderstorms were observed over the extreme south, while minimal rainfall activity was observed elsewhere.
The weather remained fair and mostly dry on the sixteenth and seventeenth, then night time thunderstorms were once again observed over the extreme south on the eighteenth.
A convergent pattern developed and prevailed between the nineteenth and twenty-second. At the lower-levels, a dry pattern persisted and minimal rainfall activities were observed.
On the twenty-third, an upper -level trough moved over the area, supporting a divergent pattern. A few showers and thunderstorms affected most areas of the country.
The pattern aloft changed as early as the twenty-third night and became convergent. From such time to the thirtieth, fair and mostly dry weather prevailed across the country.
Another trough aloft on the thirty-first and increased moisture at the lower-levels supported a few showers and thunderstorms.
In conclusion, observation indicates that May 2015 was mostly dry across Belize. An east to south-easterly flow, gusty at times, prevailed for majority of the days. Two upper-level troughs and increased low-level moisture supported the bulk of the rainfall on the twenty-third and on the thirty-first.
Monthly Weather Summary, June 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Moist and unstable conditions prevailed during the Monday 1st as a northeasterly surface - low level flow developed in advance of a tropical wave. At the upper levels a west-northwesterly flow prevailed with a trough over the Gulf of Mexico and a ridge from the Eastern Pacific across Central America supported a diffluent pattern aloft. A low developed along the wave over the Gulf of Honduras by Tuesday 2nd with the associated trough extending north to near western Cuba. Light winds and land breeze effects added to coastal convergence. Twenty-four hour rainfall amounts of two to five inches were recorded at some stations across the country during Monday 1st and one to two inches Tuesday the 2nd.
By Wednesday 3rd as the low tracked northeast towards northeast Yucatan, an upper level trough positioned over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and maximum divergence shifted east of our area. Twenty-four hour rainfall amounts were significantly reduced. However during the Thursday 4th and Friday 5th a deep layer southerly flow resulted in showers and thunderstorms developing in the south over-night with light showers spreading north across the country through the early morning. As the 1013hPa low drifted to western Cuba and upper level trough positioned along eastern Yucatan and Belize, some rainfall continued to affect some areas during the Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th and increasing while affecting most aread during the Monday 8th with 24 hour rainfall in the order of 1-3 inches.
As another tropical wave approached, the resulting northeasterly airflow got upper level support from a west-southwesterly flow aloft. The tropical wave crossed Central America by Tuesday 9th and the axis of the upper level trough reposition east of Yucatan and Belize with a ridge across the Western Caribbean. Showers and thunderstorms over-night and into the early morning the Wednesday 10th were accompannied by strong and gusty winds up to 40 knots over northern and coastal areas. During the Thursday 11th and Friday 12th the surface trough / tropical wave near northern Belize and Yucatan deepened and then developed into a low by the Saturday 13th. A diffluent west-southwesterly flow prevailed aloft and showers and thunderstorms developed inland and spread east towards the coast. Light rainfall continued to affect some areas of the country the next few days.
The low moved into the Gulf of Mexico and eventually developed into Tropical Storm Bill by the Tuesday 16th while a tropical wave crossed Central America south of 17N. Improved weather conditions developed the next few days with only isolated showers or thunderstorms. This was as a result of a relatively dry and dusty 900-550hPa layer and a gusty east-southeasterly flow along with a convergent northwesterly flow aloft.
A few showers and isolated thunderstorms affected mostly the south during Thursday 18th but mainly fair weather with only isolated showers prevailed during Friday 19th through the Monday 22nd. Showers and thunderstorms increase over-night Tuesday 23rd into the Wednesday 24th as a surge in low level winds and moisture preceeded an approaching tropical wave. An upper level low over northwestern Yucatan provided upper level support in the form of a diffluent southwesterly flow. Moist and unstable conditions persisted over-night Thursday 25th into the Friday 26th with showers and thunderstorms again accompanied by squally conditions.
Relatively dry and hazy conditions prevailed during Friday 26th and Saturday 27th as a dry layer developed at low levels while conditions continued moist and unstable at the upper levels. Low level moisture increased during Sunday 28th while at upper levels a ridge to the west and trough east of the area supported a convergent northwesterly flow. Showers and thunderstorms affecting mostly the south of the country during night-time / early morning hours with lighter activity over the remainder of the country during the daytime and these conditions continued through the final days of June.
Monthly Weather Summary, July 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The month of July 2015 saw less rain than normal. All stations recorded below average rainfall, with all stations in the north and one in the south receiving less than 25 percent of the average rain for the month. Temperatures also seemed to be a little above normal.
The month started off with mainly fair conditions and isolated shower activity, as a moderate easterly surface flow prevailed. A tropical wave on the 2nd produced some showers and thunderstorms over most areas. Punta Gorda recorded 19mm of rain on the morning of the 2nd, and Libertad a similar amount on the 3rd. The tropical wave moved away and mainly fair and dry conditions prevailed the next two days, with moderate to strong surface winds on the 3rd. The weather continued mainly fair with isolated shower activity through the 7th, except for a few morning showers over some parts of the south on the 5th. Easterly winds became fresh to strong at times. Skies then became cloudy during the afternoon and evening of the 8th and some showers developed in the evening and night. Stations over the central portion of the country received 35-40mm of rain, while Punta Gorda received almost 50mm.
An approaching tropical wave along with unstable upper level conditions caused by an upper low over southern Mexico were responsible for the increase in showers. A few showers continued over central and southern areas for the next two days as the tropical wave moved slowly away and a moderate easterly flow prevailed. Middlesex, Pomona and Punta Gorda all recorded 50-60mm of rain for the 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th. The flow shifted to the east-northeast on the 11th and 12th with mainly fair conditions along with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. An upper ridge over the eastern Pacific resulted in a weakly convergent northwest pattern aloft. A few afternoon showers and thunderstorms affected mostly inland areas on the 13th and 15th, with isolated shower activity the day between. A light east-southeast airflow prevailed on those days. An increase in moisture and unstable upper level conditions, produced by a trough over southern Mexico on the 16th , supported some showers and thunderstorms over the south early in the morning that spread north during the day.
Punta Gorda reported 107mm of rain that morning, while Hershey reported 30mm, with all other stations receiving much less. A moderate easterly airflow, supported by a surface high/ridge over the Gulf of Mexico, with only isolated showers prevailed during the next two days as conditions dried out. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms then developed on the 19th in association with a weak surface trough over the northwest Caribbean. A moderate east-southeast airflow prevailed at the lower levels. Hershey and Punta Gorda both received 27mm of rain that morning. The airflow dried out and the next three days were mainly fair and warm. The weather continued warm on the 23rd, but with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. A neutral high level pattern prevailed, with an upper ridge to the south and an upper low north of the Yucatan peninsula. A moderate easterly surface flow and moderately high moisture levels supported a few showers mainly over southern districts during the day and night of the 24th. Mainly fair and warm weather then prevailed from the 25th to the 27th.
Two weak tropical waves then supported isolated thunderstorms and a few showers over most areas during the next three days. A few stations over the central and southern portion of the country received rainfall of more than 30mm during those days. The upper pattern was mostly neutral with an upper low over Honduras on the 30th. The last day of the month saw a return to mainly fair, warm and dry conditions, as the moisture decreased and the surface flow veered a bit to the east-southeast.
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2015
Climate statistics show that the main weather features that affect the country of Belize during August are tropical waves, Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and an occasional tropical cyclone. The month of August is also characterized by a two-week dry spell referred to locally as the 'Maga Season'.
August 2015 saw the passage of three tropical waves. Although a few of them were enhanced by several TUTTs, they were nevertheless rather weak and produced limited precipitation. No tropical cyclone affected the country during August this year which is overall reflective of the rather benign 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season. An intense El Nino is responsible for the inactive season. This system is also wreaking havoc across the area as drought conditions are being experienced across most of the region including Belize. This resulted in a dry and warm August across the country.
This first day of August 2015 started off mostly sunny with only isolated showers affecting the country. However a weak tropical wave was approaching and it crossed overnight. This produced a slight increase in moisture but by the 2nd moisture was decreasing once more and showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated. Between these two days Pomona in the south recorded 6.3 mm of rain while Hershey recorded 25.1 mm.
Conditions were mainly fair and warm on the 3rd of the month with only a few brief morning showers in the interior. Similar conditions persisted on the 4th. The second tropical wave for the month crossed the country on the 5th. This system was enhanced by an upper level low and produced rainfall amounts of 7.9 mm, 6.1 mm and 9.5 mm at Belmopan, Tower Hill and Libertad, respectively. The upper low continued to produce divergent conditions on the night of the 5th and even on the 6th, although low level moisture had decreased once more. Central Farm recorded 25.0 mm of rainfall on the 6th while Hershey recorded 24.0 mm.
Warm and mostly dry conditions prevailed across the country from the 7th to the 10th and then moisture and instability increases slightly on the 11th. The main culprit was an upper level low over Yucatan which helped to support divergent conditions aloft over Belize. This resulted in cloudy spells with a few showers affecting mainly inland areas of the country. Belmopan recorded 40.1 mm of rainfall that day while Hershey got 24.0 mm.
The 12th saw a return to mostly dry conditions over the country but a few morning showers were noted. Although Melinda recorded its monthly maximum rainfall of 35.5 mm on the 13th, it was a generally dry day across the country. A similar trend continued on the 14th. However, a tropical wave (the third for the month) and an upper level low crossed the country during the night of the 14th. Left over activity from these systems produced a few morning showers and thunderstorms on the 15th. 11.3 mm of rainfall was reported at Savannah while Hershey recorded 30.0 mm. The low/trough west of the area kept upper level conditions relatively divergent on the 16 and 17th and supported generally isolated showers and thunderstorms across the country.
Conditions became mostly dry from the 18th through to the 23rd. Of the 11 stations sampled for this report, none reported significant rainfall during this period. A dry east to southeasterly airflow prevailed at the surface. While an upper low crossed the country on the night of the 21st, it did not produce any significant activity. The exception was the extreme south where an isolated thunderstorm developed that night.
The 23rd to the 28th of the month saw a slack pressure pattern develop over the area. This resulted in light winds which cause the daytime heat to become almost unbearable across the country. Rainfall continued generally low during this period but a digging polar trof from across the Gulf of Mexico would help to produce upper level instability on the 27th and 28th. This resulted in an increase in rainfall on these days. 7 of the 11 stations recorded rainfall above 5 mm on the 27th which could be characterized as a relatively wet day. The activity was mostly over the south and coast during the morning of the 27th and over inland areas during the afternoon. On the 28th activity decreased slightly but 4 stations still recorded significant rainfall (above 5 mm). The highest was Hershey with a total of 36.2 mm.
Rainfall totals decreased once more from the 29th through the 31st. The main surface feature to affect the country during this period was a surface trof which was the remnants of former Tropical Storm Erika. This caused light East to Northeasterly winds on the 29th through to early on the 30th. However, winds became East to Southeasterly later on the 30th through to the 31st and conditions continued mostly dry.
In Summary the month of August 2015 could be considered a very dry and warm month. Although a brief dry spell (the Maga Season) can be expected in this month, the dry was much more severe this year. The most likely culprit is the strong El Nino currently affecting the region. This feature continues to produce extreme drought conditions over the area. The table below summarizes the rainfall totals for the 11 sampled stations across the country compared to their monthly average. As can be seen, most stations recorded well below their average rainfall totals for the month.
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Stations
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August 2015 Rainfall (mm)
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August Average rainfall (mm) 1981-2010
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Analysis
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Airport
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43.3
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145.9-201.6
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Below Normal
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Belmopan
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64.6
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193.2-282.6
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Below Normal
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Tower Hill
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29.0
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160.1-191.0
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Below Normal
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Libertad
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36.7
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117.7-175.7
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Below Normal
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Savannah
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57.9
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311.4-398.5
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Below Normal
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Central Farm
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25.5
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126.2-203.0
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Below Normal
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Melinda
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62.3
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218.7-241.7
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Below Normal
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Pomona
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66.7
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239.6-324.7
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Below Normal
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
September 1, 2015 was a warm and mostly dry day. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated. This trend continued for another two days.
On the fourth, there was an increase in low-level moisture over the area. As a result, the country experienced some showers and thunderstorms. This decreased the following day. However, the south continued to experience some showers and thunderstorms that same night. This was the trend for the next six days. Daytimes saw warm temperatures and isolated showers or thunderstorms. Nighttimes saw a few showers and thunderstorms over the south of the country.
The eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth saw warm temperatures and isolated shower activity. The fourteenth to the sixteenth saw more shower activity, but mostly over the south.
The following two days saw warm temperatures and isolated shower activity.
Moisture increased on the nineteenth and showers and thunderstorms also increased across the country. This continued through to the twenty-second. The following day, a trough of low pressure developed over the Southwest Caribbean and moved over Belize. This further supported showers and thunderstorms across the country, but more so over coastal areas. This continued through to the twenty-sixth. Showers moved from south to north of the country; the path of the trough. On the twenty-sixth, the trough moved into the Gulf of Mexico, carrying much of the moisture from over Belize.
From the twenty-sixth to the end of the month, only isolated showers or thunderstorms were observed around the country.
Rainfall data obtained shows the normal pattern of rainfall, increasing from north to south. Amounts ranged from 106 millimetres in the north to 404 millimetres in the south. Generally speaking, this indicates below normal rainfall for the month of September at key stations around the country.
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The broad cyclonic circulation of Hurricane Joaquin dominated our weather during the first few days of October. Joaquin meandered over the Central Bahamas while an induced ridge extended across Mexico and northern Central America during Friday 2nd into Saturday 3rd. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms moved from the northwest to southeast across the country during Thursday 1st associated with pre-frontal activity, then a weak cold front crossed the country during the late evening of the 2nd into the over-night and rapidly weakened into a frontal trough from Central Cuba to the Gulf of Honduras. Upper leval conditions became drier as a northeasterly flow developed and along with a dry northwesterly surface - low level flow supported mainly fair weather during Saturday 3rd. Except for isolated showers over the Maya Mountains these conditions persisted during the following days and Thursday 8th.
By Friday 9th a surface - low level trough extended from Florida to northwest Yucatan and supported a diurnal pattern of shower activity the next couple days. Over-night Saturday 10th into Sunday 11th a pre-frontal trough extended across Yucatan to just north of the country while a tropical wave along 84W approached from the east. Mainly fair weather conditions prevailed during Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th. By Wednesday 14th a divergent southwesterly flow developed aloft with a trough across the Bay of Campeche and Gulf of Tehuantepec and ridge over the Caribbean. At the surface and low levels a trough extended from offshore Costa Rica northwest through the Yucatan Channel. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms developed over the south over-night the 14th into the 15th and spread north and northwest across the country.
Relatively moist and unstable conditions developed during Thursday 15th and Tuesday 20th as the trough remained quasi-stationary while a tropical wave moved into the area. The system would develop into an area of disturbed weather accompanied by a 1008hPa low over the Gulf of Honduras with a low chance for tropical development due to proximity land. By Saturday 17th the system drifted west to the border areas of Belize and Guatemala and a broad monsoon type flow developed. At the upper levels a high straddled southern Belize and the Gulf of Honduras and provided unstable conditions aloft.
Heavy showers and intense thunderstorms developed between Belize City and Turneffe atoll over-night Sunday 18th and Monday 19th while additional showers and thunderstorms affected the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains and later over the northern districts. The heavy rainfall produced unpresedented localized flooding in low lying areas of Belize City and Nemo / Cemo had to be activated to render assistance to stranded residents in the city who had to be admitted to shelters, while river levels also rose over some other areas of the country. Another area of low pressure developed a couple hundred miles east of Belize City by Tuesday 20th with the associated trough drifting to the coast of Belize and eastern Yucatan by Tuesday 20th. An upper level trough maintained unstable conditions aloft.
Improving conditions developed during Wednesday 21st. The upper levels dried-out as a high centered over southern Mexico supported a northerly to northwesterly flow, while at the surface a 1010hPa low was positioned over the Bay of Campeche. A light east-southeasterly flow developed, however some residual moisture supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the south during the night. Mainly fair and dry weather developed the next few days. with early morning fog patches blanketing the Belize River Valley areas during Friday 23rd. Moisture increased at the upper levels during Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th but total available moisture remained relatively low as conditions were drier at or near the surface. Showers were generally isolated along with isolated air-mass thunderstorms developing inland due to daytime heating and over the south and coast over-night.
A cold front moved into the eastern Bay of Campeche by Sunday 25th and some pre-frontal activity in the form of showers and thunderstorms developed over inland areas during Monday 26th. Similar activity re-developed over the higher elevations of the Maya Mountains in the afternoon of Tuesday 27th, however conditions were mainly fair over-night. Except for some high level moisture and high clouds drifting north to south across the area, weather conditions were mainly fair and mostly dry during the last few days of October. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated.
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
November 2015 was rather wet, with most stations across the country receiving two to three to times the normal monthly rainfall. No cold front crossed the country; however a weak and dissipating frontal trough did drift south across our area near the end of the month.
The month started off mainly fair with only isolated shower activity. The Atlantic ridge extending into the NW Caribbean supported a moderate east-southeast surface flow on the first day, then the ridge retreated, and a light east-northeast flow prevailed. The upper pattern was weakly convergent, with a TUTT low moving south to near NE Honduras on the 3rd. The weather became cloudy and showery on the 4th; the moisture increased as a surface trough approached from the east. The PGIA recorded 23mm of rain, the most for that day. A few showers lingered mainly over northern districts over the next two days, as a low developed near northern Belize and moved northwest to northern Yucatan by the 6th. Generally isolated showers prevailed on the 7th, and an east-southeast surface flow dominated the surface and low levels. The next four days (8-11) was cloudy at times with a few showers over most areas along with isolated thunderstorms. A weak tropical wave crossed on the 10th and a more active one on the 12th. The airflow became moist on the 12th and the surface flow backed to the east-northeast. Showers increased, especially over the south. The upper pattern varied from weakly divergent to neutral from the 8th to the 11th, then became divergent on the 12th as an upper trough to the west amplified. Cloudy to over skies then prevailed from the 13th to the 16th, with several showers and intermittent periods of light rain especially over the south. Rainfall from the 12th to the 15th ranged from a little than less than 100mm in the north to just above 300mm in the south. A surface trough moved slowly across the country on the 14th, then lingered from the Bay of Campeche, across Belize, to northwest Honduras for the day, after which it drifted west and dissipated. The heavy rains in the south that weekend resulted in flooding of some rivers and nearby villages in the Toledo district. The airflow then veered to the east-southeast on the 17th and conditions improved by that afternoon. Only isolated showers prevailed the next day then the moisture increased once again on the 19th, as a weak surface low developed east of Nicaragua and the flow backed to the east-northeast. A few showers occurred over most areas that day and the following. A light easterly surface flow, moderate moisture levels and a neutral upper pattern result isolated showers on the 21st. The next three days (22-24) saw partly cloudy skies with a few showers mainly over southern districts, as a cold front approached and stalled just north of Belize on the 24th. The associated surface ridge over southern Mexico caused the surface flow to become northwesterly as the front stalled under a weakly convergent upper pattern. The front weakened the next day and showers were generally isolated, but increased during the night. The dissipating frontal trough/ remnants then drifted south on the 26th and produced cloudy and showery weather mainly over central and southern areas, as a moderate northeasterly low level flow prevailed. Some stations in the central regions of the country recorded 75-85mm of rainfall on the 26th. The upper pattern was weakly convergent, with a ridge over our area from an upper high centered over southern Mexico. The moisture decreased and showers were isolated on the 27th and 29th; but a few light showers / light rain affected central and northern areas on the 28th and 30th. A convergent surface pattern and slight increases in moisture was responsible for this off and on slight to moderate increase in showers, as the upper pattern continued subsident/convergent.
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2015
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climatology shows that the main features influencing weather across the country of Belize in December are cold fronts, upper level troughs and the development of moist northeasterly airflows in the area. There was no frontal passage in December of 2015. However, a couple fronts stalled over or just north of the country resulting in relatively moist conditions over the area. The upper levels were mostly dry during the month.
On the first day of December a surface trough over the Gulf of Honduras supported a moist North to Northeasterly airflow over the country. This resulted in cloudy skies at times with a few showers and light rain across the country. The same feature continued on the 2nd but conditions were a bit drier that day with only isolated showers developing. On the 3rd the trough moved a little closer to the country and moisture increased once more. Skies were cloudy with a few showers and light rain mainly over the Sea and along the coast. Similar conditions continued the following day with a weak low developing along the surface trough. On the 5th, the National Hurricane Center analyzed a stationary front east of the country. However, all observations indicated that the front was further north over Yucatan and instead the feature analyzed as the front was actually the persistent surface trough. Showers increased that day and conditions were a bit moist until the 7th.
Moisture decreased during the 8th and by the 9th weather conditions were mainly fair with only isolated showers. The dry spell was interrupted briefly on the 10th when skies were generally cloudy with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over central and southern areas of the country. The 11th was a bit drier and then moisture increased slightly again on the 12th resulting in partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a few showers.
Weather conditions were mostly dry from the 13th to the 17th. During this time a frontal boundary persisted in the Gulf of Mexico and a slack pressure pattern dominated over the Northwest Caribbean Sea and Belize. The result was a light and mostly dry east to southeasterly airflow over the country.
By the 18th a cold front advanced to the northwest Yucatan Peninsula resulting in a slight increase in moisture over the country. Conditions became even more moist on the 19th as the front became stationary over Belize. Additionally, a short-wave trough at the upper levels was just west of the country and supported moderately divergent conditions aloft. These conditions supported an increase in convective instability over the area and thunder was observed at the airport during the night of the 19th into the early morning hours of the 20th. Cloudiness and showers decreased later on the 20th and conditions became generally dry on the 21st.
Another dry spell developed over the area from the 21st through to the 28th of December 2015. The dominant feature during this time was the Atlantic ridge to the northeast. This feature combined with a moderately intense Panamanian low over the southwest Caribbean caused tight pressure gradients over the area. The result was a gusty and dry southeasterly airflow that persisted through the Christmas holiday. Rainfall was limited with only isolated showers occurring mostly at nighttime and mainly on the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains.
Moisture increased slightly on the 29th. This occurred as a cold front dipped into the eastern Gulf of Mexico causing winds to decrease slightly over the area. The cold front would not make it as far as Yucatan and gradually retrogressed into the northwest Gulf. However, conditions remained marginally moist through to the end of the month. Showers were generally isolated on the 30th but a few more developed over inland and southern areas to close off the month on the 31st.
Table 1 below shows the rainfall recorded in December 2015 versus the climatological mean for the month for a few of the weather stations across the country. From the table it can be seen that most stations in the north recorded above average rainfall while a few in the south and the west recorded below average.
Table 1.
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Stations
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Rainfall recorded (mm)
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December Average (mm)
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Percentage of Average (%)
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AIRPORT
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168.2
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144.6
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116.3
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CENTRAL FARM
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69.3
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124.3
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55.8
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TOWER HILL
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87.7
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69.9
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125.5
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LIBERTAD
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143.0
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69.2
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206.6
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SAVANNAH
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110.7
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147.9
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74.8
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MELINDA
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156.3
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150.8
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103.6
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SPANISH LOOKOUT
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114.7
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125.5
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91.4
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
January 2016 began with a few coastal showers in Belize. Showers were also observed over the south. A moist north-easterly air flow was dominating as a result of a stationary front in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. These showers continued on the second day of the month and became isolated on the third.
The first cold front for the month crossed the country on the fourth day. The only indication of its passage was light showers moving from west to east, along with the backing of the winds to the northwest. Showers were observed over and near Belize through to the sixth.
The country experienced little rainfall activity during the next three days, as the frontal system moved out of the area and winds veered to the east and southeast. On the tenth day, another cold front crossed the country. Again, not much rainfall activity was observed. The front moved just off shore and dissipated, supporting showers inland and over the south during the next four days.
The following two days, the fifteenth and sixteenth saw sunny and clear conditions, with no rainfall. No rainfall was observed on the seventeenth when yet another cold front made its way across the country. Cool and dry weather dominated on the eighteenth and nineteenth. It moved just off shore where it became stationary, lingering there through to the twenty-first. The proximity of the frontal system supported cloudy conditions across the country and light showers were observed mostly over central and northern areas.
On the twenty-second afternoon, a few light showers were observed over inland areas as yet another cold front approached the country. It crossed later that night with very little rainfall. It moved very quickly east and south of the country and the associated high-pressure ridge supported cool and dry conditions during the following four days.
On the twenty-seventh, another cold front approached the country. Pre-frontal activity was evident as isolated showers and an isolated thunderstorm over the Maya Mountains. The front quickly crossed the country on the twenty-eight evening with light showers and strong, gusty winds over some parts of the north.
The remaining three days of the month was uneventful. Cool and dry conditions prevailed.
In conclusion, five cold fronts crossed Belize during January 2016. Cool temperatures were recorded, but they were well within the normal range. All of the cold fronts were relatively dry and data analysis shows that rainfall for this month was well below the average for this time of the year.
Station January_2016 Normal (1981-2010)
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Station
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January_2016
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Normal (1981-2010)
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Libertad
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37.6
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59.4
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Tower Hill
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12.7
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72.4
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La Milpa
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17.1
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64.7
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Philip Goldson Airport
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62.3
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152.6
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St.Johns (Belize City)
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87
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128.6
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Belize Zoo
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65.8
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134.9
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Belmopan
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59.8
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125
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Spanish Lookout
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28.2
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93.4
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Baldy Beacon
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96
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224
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Middlesex
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57.5
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171
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Pomona
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162.7
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Melinda
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47
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157.9
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Savannah Forest Stn
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81.8
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135.7
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Punta Gorda Agri. Stn
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42.6
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146.3
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
A moderate and relatively dry east-southeasterly airflow prevailed during Monday 1st of February through Wednesday 3rd when winds backed to the northeast ahead of an approaching cold front. Some pre-frontal activity developed during Thursday 4th as a north to south line of showers developed from near Orange walk Town to offshore Placencia and moved eastwards. A gusty northwesterly flow developed in the wake of the shear-line. The associated cold front crossed Yucatan and Belize by early morning Friday 5th with light rain / drizzle affecting some areas of the country through Saturday 6th. By Sunday 7th skies cleared as the cool and gusty northwesterly flow dominated. A series of re-enforcing surges of cooler air settled over the area the following couple of days and maintained cool and relatively dry conditions through Thursday 11th. A few showers and periods of light rain returned to some ares over-night Thursday 11 through midday Friday 12th and again during the night of Saturday 13th as moisture returned over the area in a northeasterly flow.
Strong high pressures offshore the Carolinas resulted in the development of a moderate southeasterly airflow over our area and pushed residual moisture across the central to northern areas of the country by Monday 15th. Cloudy condiitions developed during Tuesday 16th as a small cyclonic vertex developed offshore Belize and Honduras and supported northwesterly winds over-land and a southeasterly flow at the Cayes. Showers occurred mostly over northern and along some coastal areas.
By the Tuesday 16th another cold front was over the Gulf of Mexico and the associated Continental high centered over Texas supported a northeasterly flow. Skies were cloudy along with showers occurring over the norhern districts and north facing slopes of the Maya Mountains. The weak frontal boundary meandered between southeastern Yucatan and Belize through Wednesday 17th. Showers and periods of rain affected northern coastal areas at first then increased over most areas over-night into Thursday 18th. The focus for showers and rain continued to the south of the country into Friday 19th as a gusty northeasterly flow developed in response to strong high pressures over the southeastern United States.
Mainly fair weather with only isolated showers prevailed during Saturday 20th through Monday 22nd as deepening low over Texas pulled a southeasterly flow over the Northwest Caribbean, Yucatan and Belize. Winds backed to northwesterly and became gusty over-night into Tuesday 23rd as another cold front approached. Late evening pre-frontal showers and isolated thunderstorms developed over northern and inland areas During Wednesday 24th and spread east to the central and south coast. The cold front crossed the country by early-morning Thursday 25th with showers and rain continuing over and offshore the south of the country.
A gusty northeasterly airflow prevailed during Thursday 25th through Sunday 28th with some periods of light rain affetcting the central and some coastal areas of the country. Conditions became mainly fair, cool and dry during Monday 29th.
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And no mention of this wind event?
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Only one cold front crossed the country in March of this year; while rainfall was above normal at some stations in the south and one in the northwest.
The first two days of the month was mainly fair with only isolated showers. A weak surface ridge over the central Gulf of Mexico supported a relatively dry east-northeast airflow over our area. On the 3rd, skies became cloudy and a few showers affected inland areas during the day. Tower Hill and Melinda recorded just under an inch of rain for that day. During the night and the next day, some light rain moving from west to east affected central and northern districts as conditions became moist, especially in the mid levels of the atmosphere. An upper low over northern Mexico produced a divergent southwest upper flow over the region. Pomona received almost three inches of rain, with all other stations well under one inch. A few periods of light rain continued on Saturday 5th, along with an isolated thunderstorm in the Belize City area in the afternoon. The rain gauge at St Johns College recorded just over one inch or rain, while Baldi beacon had about half an inch more. On the 6th, conditions continued relatively moist and a few showers affected mostly southern districts, with Punta Gorda getting about two and a half inches of rain. The rains spread to most areas the next day, though not as intense, and decreased by that evening. The surface flow had veered to the east under the influence of a ridge that extended from the Atlantic to the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the northwest Caribbean Sea, and the moisture was starting to decrease.
The surface ridge to the north and northeast strengthened further and resulted in a moderate to fresh, and mostly dry, east-southeast airflow over our area for the next five days (8th-12th). A divergent upper southwest flow supported isolated thunderstorms over the extreme southwest on the 12th. The gradient then relaxed a little, but the dry east-southeast flow continued for the next seven days (13th-19th), with conditions gradually warming up. An approaching cold front induced cloudy skies along with isolated showers and thunderstorms on the 20th, then produced some light rain along with strong gusty northerly winds as it crossed during the next day. Baldi Beacon reported over two inches of rain for the 20th, while Middlesex had over one and one half inches. Skies continued cloudy on the 22nd with a few light showers/rain over the south and west, and only isolated showers/rain the next day as the front retrogressed and dissipated over our area. The surface flow veered to the east-southeast and the moisture decreased further on the 24th, resulting in seasonally fair and warm weather to the end of the month. The upper pattern was weakly divergent at first, but became weakly convergent by the last two days.
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climatologically, the Atlantic High Pressure ridge usually dominates the region during the month of April. Its orientation typically produces a dry southeasterly airflow across the country. At times heat-lows may develop across southern Mexico which causes pressure gradients to tighten over the area resulting in gusty winds. However, when the centres of these systems are over or very near the country, pressure gradients would instead slacken causing light winds and an excessively high heat-index. This overall synoptic pattern for the month normally corresponds with dry and warm weather. The only relief would come in the form of an occasional cold front. On average about two cold fronts would cross the country during the month. These may be accompanied by strong to severe thunderstorms and they are the main producers of the little rainfall for the month. April 2016 was characteristically warm but much drier than normal. This is likely due to the fact that only one weak frontal boundary affected the country.
The first day of April 2016, started out mainly fair and warm as a dry easterly to southeasterly surface flow dominated the area. A cold front was approaching the next day with a prefrontal trof crossing the country during the night. This supported an increase in moisture with a few showers and thunderstorms. Moisture would continue relatively high during the next few days from the 3rd to the 5th as the weak front stalled just north of Belize and gradually dissipated. Its remnants drifted south during the night of the 5th and by the 6th light showers and rain were confined to the south.
Moisture decreased on the 7th and conditions continued mainly fair and dry for the next few days. However, daytime temperatures were slightly lower than normal up until the 12th. This was largely due to an anomalous easterly to east-northeasterly surface flow.
The normal synoptic pattern became established on the 13th and the warm and dry easterly to southeasterly airflow developed over the area. This continued until the 17th and little to no rainfall was recorded during this period.
Winds backed up once again to the east and then east to northeast between the 18th and the 24th. This wind shift initially supported slightly cloudier conditions across the country on the 19th and 20th as a weak moisture surge developed. This produced a very slight increase in showers across the country. However, by the 21st moisture decreased once more even though the surface flow remained easterly to east-northeasterly.
The high pressure system moved off to the east of the Continental United States on the 25th. Its new orientation caused the surface flow to veer to the east-southeast over Belize and temperatures gradually increased over the area. Additionally, heat lows began developing to the northwest around the 29th. The pressure gradients therefore tightened and the easterly to southeasterly flow became gusty on the last two days of the month.
As mentioned previously rainfall was well below normal during April 2016. Except for the showers experienced between the 2nd and the 6th and the weak moisture surge between the 19th and 20th no significant rainfall occurred. Figure 1, below indicates that most stations across the country recorded below normal rainfall except for Tower Hill in the north and Baldy Beacon over the Mountain Pine Ridge area.
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
May in Belize is considered the hottest month of the year. Indeed May 2016 was hot, but it also proved to be more.
From the first to the fourth, dry and stable conditions prevailed. No rainfall was recorded at any of the stations. On the fourth night, however, pre-frontal activities supported an outbreak of showers and thunderstorms which moved from north to south across the country.
On the fifth, the trailing cold front crossed the country without producing any rainfall. Showers were observed late that night over the extreme south of the country.
From the sixth to the fifteenth, isolated to a few showers were all that were observed around the country. The bulk of these were observed over the extreme south.
From the sixteenth, to the end of the month, fair, warm and mostly dry conditions prevailed.
In conclusion, high temperatures were recorded, but none record breaking. One cold front crossed the country between the fourth and fifth of the month. Even though pre-frontal activities supported showers and thunderstorms, all other days were mostly dry. The final rainfall data shows most of the stations recorded well below the average. In fact, data shows record breaking amounts far below the normal.
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Station
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May2016
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Normal
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Libertad
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NA
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103.4
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Tower Hill
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39.8
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118.3
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Rio Bravo La Milpa
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9.7
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110.1
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Philip Goldson Airport
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11.7
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138.2
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St John's Belize City
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NA
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82.6
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Belize Zoo
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62
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121.3
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La Democracia
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53.5
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NA
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Belmopan
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52.1
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96.5
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Central Farm
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13.5
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91
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Spanish Lookout
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NA
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106.7
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Baldy Beacon
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13.4
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254.9
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Humminbird Hershey
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128.2
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143.8
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Middlesex
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NA
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180.4
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Pomona
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45.1
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207.5
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Melinda
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42
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158.7
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Savannah Forest Stn
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44.3
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129.1
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Punta Gorda Agri. Stn
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32
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180.5
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
June marks the start of the rainy season in Belize which coincides with the hurricane season that runs from June to November. Weather conditions were mainly fair across the country during the first couple of days. An approaching tropical wave during the Friday 3rd supported a east-northeasterly airflow and an increase in moisure and showers over northern areas of the country as a developing low was observed to the east. The developing low / area of disturbed weather maintained moist and unstable conditions the next few days with showers and thunderstorms spreading across the country from the southwest to the northeast during Sat 4th and spread northeastwards across central and northern areas during Sun. 5th. By midday the low / area of disturbed weather was upgraded to tropical Depression #3 and to Tropical Storm Colin just north of Yucatan later that evening. Except for lingering showers and thundestoerms over the south of the country, weather conditions improved over-night Monday 6th into Tuesday 7th.
During the Tuesday 7th, a tough of low pressure developed over the Northwest Caribbean Sea from east of Belize to south Florida. The resulting east-southeasterly flow at the surface and low levels resulted in showers spreading northwestwards across central and northern areas of the country through Friday 10th. An induced surface trough / reflection of an upper level low then approached our area. As the upper level low crossed southern Belize the surface trough / wave moved across 86w south of 15n. The increase in moisture along with a diffluent / diverent upper level pattern between the low and a trailing upper level ridge supported showers and thunderstorms through Saturday 11th into Sunday 12th.
Mainly fair weather prevailed during the daytime of Monday 13th through Thursday 16th under the influence of a moderate and gusty east-southeasterly airflow. However, a few showers and thunderstorms affecting mostly the south of the country during the night-time / early morning hours. Another tropical wave crossed the country during Friday 17th. The wave was accompanied by a weak low at low to mid levels of the atmosphere east of northern Belize and Yucatan and supported a surge in low level winds. Showers and thunderstorms affected northern and inland areas during peak daytime heating hours, then increased along the central and northern coastline during the night-time resulting in localized floodings of streets and residents in the north. The low continued to influence our weather with an MCS developing over the Ladyville / Belize City area over-night Friday 18th into Saturday 19th and produced heavy rainfall accumulation at the PGIA by midday Sunday 19th. The system tracked across southeastern Mexico / Yucatan and Guatemala and was upgrded to Tropica Depression #4 over the southern Gulf of Mexico by Saturday 19th and eventually into tropical storm Danielle over the southwest Gulf of Mexico / Bay of Campeche early Sunday 20th.
A relatively moist east-northeasterly airflow prevaled as yet another tropical wave approached and was supported by diffleunt pattern aloft between the low over northwestern Yucatan and ridge dominating northern Central America and the western Caribbean. A weak low developed in association with the wave along 87W then crossed the country during Tuesday 22nd. Showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain affected most areas of the country through Wednesday 23rd then occurred in a more diurnal pattern the next few days affecting especially the south during the night-time.
An upper level trough was over the Bay of Campeche as another tropical wave approached the country and supported an eastnortheasterly surface and low level flow. The wave crossed the area over-night Monday 27th into Tuesday 28th and showers and thunderstorms affected most areas. Except for night-time showers continuing to affect the south of the country at night-time, weather conditions were mainly fair over most areas the next few days through the end of the month.
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Monthly Weather Summary, July 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Six, mostly weak, tropical waves crossed the country during the month of July 2016, and rainfall was below average, except over the extreme south. Some stations in the north received only one third of their normal rain for the month, while Punta Gorda received about one quarter more than normal.
The month started with a few showers and thunderstorms over southern districts, which became isolated the next day as moisture levels decreased over our area. A moderate easterly surface flow prevailed along with a neutral upper level pattern. A weak tropical wave then supported a few light showers and isolated thunderstorms over most areas on the 3rd, then mainly over northern districts on the 4th. The next two days were generally fair, with a few showers and thunderstorms continuing over the south, especially at night, as moisture levels remained high over the south, and the upper pattern being weakly divergent with an anticyclone to the east.
Another weak tropical wave resulted in a few showers and brief thunderstorms over most areas during the day of the 7th, which continued over the south during the night. Winds were gusty and the low level pattern convergent. Rainfall over the Toledo district totalled four to five inches for the 7th. The weather returned to mainly fair with isolated shower activity the next four days (8th-11th), except for the south where a few showers and thunderstorms continued mostly at night. Southern Toledo averaged one inch of rain per day (night). These southern showers continued into the morning on the 10th and 11th. A surface ridge over the northern Gulf of Mexico maintained the moderate easterly airflow over our area.
The 12th saw a few showers and thunderstorms over most areas as a weak tropical wave moved across the country. A weakly divergent upper pattern supported these showers. Rainfall was less than one inch at most stations. During the next four days (13th-16th) the weather was mainly fair with isolated showers and thunderstorms, except for the south again at night. Punta Gorda recorded three and one half inches of rain on the 16th. A light east to east-northeast surface airflow prevailed on those days along with relatively low moisture and a neutral upper pattern. Showers and thunderstorms then increased mainly over the south and central areas on the 17th and continued to the 19th when another tropical wave crossed the country. One to two inches of rain was recorded over central portions of the country. The rains decreased by the next afternoon, and mainly fair weather prevailed on the 21st and 22nd, except again over the south during the night-time hours.
Another weak tropical wave produced a slight to moderate increase in rainfall and resulted in few showers and thunderstorms over most areas on the 23rd. The weather then returned to mainly fair the next four days (24th -27th) with showers during the morning of the 26th and over the south most nights. Punta Gorda continued to receive two to four inches of rain per day (night). The surface flow was generally easterly and moderate, while the upper pattern neutral to weakly divergent with an inverted trof axis from Nicaragua to central Cuba. A few showers and thunderstorms developed over the interior on the 28th, mainly due to heating and increasing moisture. Another tropical wave supported showers and thunderstorms over most areas on the 29th, with the extreme south seeing almost four inches of rain and generally less than one inch elsewhere. Fair and mainly dry weather prevailed the next day, with a slight increase in showers and thunderstorms coming on the last day of the month.
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climate statistics show that the main weather features that affect the country of Belize during August are tropical waves, Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and an occasional tropical cyclone. The month of August is also characterized by a two-week dry spell referred to locally as the 'Maga Season'.
August 2016 saw the passage of seven tropical waves most of which were rather weak. The most significant feature to affect the country was Hurricane Earl which caused wind and storm surge damage mainly in the Ladyville area. Additionally, excess rainfall amounts over central areas of the country resulted in flooding particularly in the west.
Moisture gradually increased across the country during the first two days of August as the area came under a northeasterly surface flow ahead of the system which later developed into Hurricane Earl. Tropical Storm Earl formed just south of Jamaica at around 16Z (10 a.m. local time) on the 2nd of August. The system was moving westward at a relatively fast pace and by the 3rd August outer rain bands from Earl began affecting Belize. Skies were cloudy with some outbreak of showers and thunderstorms that day. Earl was upgraded to a hurricane at 21Z (3 p.m. local time) on the 3rd and made landfall later that night at about 11:53 p.m. local time as a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Landfall was about 13 miles south-southwest of Belize City. The highest wind gusts observed was at Half-Moon Caye where a 104 mph wind gust was recorded. At the Airport the highest gusts was 73 mph while at Port of Belize in Belize City it was 80 mph. Earl also caused a storm surge of about 3-5 feet particularly in the Vista Del Mar area of Ladyville. Hurricane Earl made a sudden southwestward wobble just before landfall and continued that motion across Belize with its center passing just south of Belmopan before moving further west. Torrential rainfall in the west resulted in flooding of the Macal River. Weather conditions gradually improved on the 5th as the system moved further west into Guatemala and eventually emerged in the Bay of Campeche before making a second landfall near Vera Cruz, Mexico on August 6th.
Moisture remained relatively high over Belize during the days immediately after Earl but rainfall totals were minimal. The relatively fair weather continued through to the 8th when a weak and rather inactive tropical wave crossed the country. Another weak tropical wave crossed on the night of the 9th resulting in showers and thunderstorms in the south.
Fair weather prevailed across the country on the 10th and 11th and then moisture begun increasing on the 12th ahead of another tropical wave. This resulted in a few showers and thunderstorms which continued on the 13th when the wave crossed. Moisture and instability, though decreasing, remained relatively high on the 14th causing a few more showers and thunderstorms across the country. Additionally, there were reports of a tornado-like storm affecting the Spanish Lookout area on the 14th.
An easterly to southeasterly airflow supported mainly fair weather on the 15th and most of the 16th with the exception of a few showers that affected mainly central and northern areas. This increase on the 16th was due the approach of yet another tropical wave. This wave crossed on the 17th causing moist conditions with a few showers and thunderstorms mainly over northern and central areas. Moisture decreased on the 18th and generally fair weather prevailed with only a few early morning showers and thunderstorms over the south.
Moisture increased once more on the 19th ahead of tropical wave number 5 for the month which crossed on the 20th. A brief reduction in moisture on the 21st was short-lived as yet another tropical wave was approaching. Tropical wave number 6 crossed on the night on of the 22nd resulting in showers and thunderstorms mainly over the south which continued early on the 23rd. Conditions continued slightly moist on the 24th and 25th as broad trofing developed over the central Caribbean and supported an east to northeasterly surface flow over Belize. A slack pressure pattern developed on the 26th causing light and variable early morning winds which became north to northeasterly later in the day. Weather conditions were mainly fair with only isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms.
The last tropical wave for the month was approaching on the 27th with a weak area of low pressure embedded along its axis over the northwest Caribbean. A distinct low level swirl was noted on visible satellite imagery. This wave became rather ill-defined thereafter and no significant weather affected the country with its passage.
The last few days of the month (August 28 to 31) saw a slack pressure pattern over the area resulting in light winds and very warm daytime temperatures. Conditions were generally fair with afternoon thunderstorms affecting mainly inland areas of the country.
The figures below show a summary of the rainfall activity for the month. The figure at the top shows the total rainfall recorded. As can be seen the highest rainfall was recorded over the central mountainous areas of the country with Baldy Beacon recording a total of 447.9 mm. The figure at the bottom shows how this rainfall compares to average as it shows what percentage of the normal was recorded. Blue colors indicate above normal while red colors indicate below normal rainfall. The figure clearly indicates that the south got significantly less rainfall than normal. Northern areas were also below normal but slightly less so compared to the south. Central areas of the country recorded above normal rainfall. This area of above normal rainfall correlates directly with the path taken by Hurricane Earl. This suggests that the excess rainfall from Hurricane Earl was likely the main factor contributing to above normal rainfall in this area.
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
September 2016 in Belize was mostly moist, especially over the south and over inland areas. The first day started with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the south. On the second and third day, fair weather prevailed, with only isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. On the second night, however, the south experienced a few more.
On the fourth day, a weak tropical wave approached the country. This wave was associated with moisture preceding it and so a few showers and thunderstorms affected the country on the fourth and fifth. The following two days were sunny and fair with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Another tropical wave affected the country on the eighth and ninth day. The north of the country experienced the bulk of the rainfall. Mainly fair weather followed on the tenth and eleventh day, except for afternoon hours, when inland areas experienced a few showers and thunderstorms.
On the twelfth, the country experienced early morning coastal showers and inland afternoon showers. That same night, another tropical wave crossed the country, spreading showers and thunderstorms around the country.
From the thirteenth to the twenty-first, relatively moist and unstable conditions supported a few showers and thunderstorms over the south and coast at night and over inland areas in the afternoons. Showers continued around the country on the twenty-second and twenty-third , when yet another tropical wave crossed the country.
Over the following three days, relatively moist and unstable conditions supported a few showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain around the country. On the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, another tropical wave approached and crossed the country, but supported no significant rainfall. However, on the last day of the month, an upper-level trough over the area, supported unstable atmospheric conditions. At the same time, low-level moisture increased and so the country experienced a few showers and thunderstorms.
In conclusion, the country experienced a relatively moist September in 2016. Five tropical waves were noted to have crossed the country, supporting showers and thunderstorms, except for one that produced no significant rainfall. Apart from these rain makers, moist and unstable conditions were the other supporting factors for the rainfall this month. Present data shows that this September rainfall fell within the normal range for this time of the year.
September 2016 in Belize was mostly moist, especially over the south and over inland areas. The first day started with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the south. On the second and third day, fair weather prevailed, with only isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. On the second night, however, the south experienced a few more.
On the fourth day, a weak tropical wave approached the country. This wave was associated with moisture preceding it and so a few showers and thunderstorms affected the country on the fourth and fifth. The following two days were sunny and fair with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Another tropical wave affected the country on the eighth and ninth day. The north of the country experienced the bulk of the rainfall. Mainly fair weather followed on the tenth and eleventh day, except for afternoon hours, when inland areas experienced a few showers and thunderstorms.
On the twelfth, the country experienced early morning coastal showers and inland afternoon showers. That same night, another tropical wave crossed the country, spreading showers and thunderstorms around the country.
From the thirteenth to the twenty-first, relatively moist and unstable conditions supported a few showers and thunderstorms over the south and coast at night and over inland areas in the afternoons. Showers continued around the country on the twenty-second and twenty-third , when yet another tropical wave crossed the country.
Over the following three days, relatively moist and unstable conditions supported a few showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain around the country. On the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, another tropical wave approached and crossed the country, but supported no significant rainfall. However, on the last day of the month, an upper-level trough over the area, supported unstable atmospheric conditions. At the same time, low-level moisture increased and so the country experienced a few showers and thunderstorms.
In conclusion, the country experienced a relatively moist September in 2016. Five tropical waves were noted to have crossed the country, supporting showers and thunderstorms, except for one that produced no significant rainfall. Apart from these rain makers, moist and unstable conditions were the other supporting factors for the rainfall this month. Present data shows that this September rainfall fell within the normal range for this time of the year.
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Station
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September
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Normal
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Libertad
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111.9
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198.1
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Towerhill
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187.8
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191.6
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Philip Goldson Airport
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160.7
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258.8
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Central Farm
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88.6
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177.4
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Middlesex
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246.5
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354.8
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Melinda
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260.2
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241
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Spanish Lookout
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130.8
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174.4
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Savannah Forest Stn
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393.9
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365.3
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The month of October saw below average rainfall for most stations as rainfall from tropical waves were limited. Weather conditions were affected by persistent low surface pressures over the southwestern and western Caribbean Sea and transient upper level Tutt lows.
A few showers occurred over the north and coast over-night into the 1st and over the mountains in the south during the daytime. The broad circulation of Category 4 Hurricane Matthew centered over the southeastern Caribbean dominated our weather during the first few days of the month. This supported a light and relatively dry northeasterly airflow during the 2nd through the 4th as Matthew moved north across the Caribbean towards western Hispaniola / Haiti and eastern Cuba. At upper levels a Tutt low over the western / central Caribbean moved west of our area by the 2nd and back east of our area by the 5th. This initially supported a convergent northwesterly flow aloft. However on the 2nd it supported isolated thunderstorms in the vicinity of the PGIA and the northern slopes of the Maya Mountains. Then by the 5th and the upper level northwesterly flow became a bit convergent. Weather conditions were mainly fair during the 7th, however during the 8th to 11th a relatively slack pressure gradient supported light winds and in a deep layer southerly flow with increasing upper level moisture, isolated thunderstorm developed in the south at night-time with showers and rain spreading across the country.
The upper levels became drier by Wednesday 12th due to a north-northwesterly flow from a ridge to the west. At low levels a surface trough across the northwestern Caribbean supported a north-northeasterly flow and mainly fair conditions through Thursday 13th. High resolution satellite imagery detected a cyclonic swirl of low clouds centered near 18N 84W and this produced showers over and offshore the south over-night and along the north coast and higher elevations inland during the daytime. This activity was supported by a weakly divergent westerly - southwesterly flow aloft from an upper level low south of western Cuba. This pattern of diurnal shower activity continued Through the 16th. During the 17th and 18th, light winds resulted in land breeze effect over-night. Showers developed mostly over the sea due to coastal convergence and shower activity affected the south and coastal areas during the night and early morning hours with additional activity developing inland and in the higher elevations at peak daytime heating hours. During the 19th showers moved from the sea to northern coastal areas. Then with the upper level high centered over the Gulf of Tehuantepec, the resulting northwesterly flow supported a drying trend through the 20th. Night-time / early morning showers were confined to mostly coastal waters during the 21st with isolated showers over the Maya mountains on the 22nd.
By the 23rd a cold front stalled over northern Yucatan with a shear-line developing between Hisopaniola and northeastern Nicaragua. Over our area a convergent / long fetch northeasterly flow developed, while at upper levels a trough extended down to the northwestern Caribbean with a ridge extending north from the eastern Pacific across Mexico and into the central United States. Afternoon showers affected mostly southern and inland areas, becoming generally isolated over-night into Monday 24th.
Remnant moisture from the dissipating frontal boundary drifted south and southwest from the northwestern Caribbean and supported mostly low-topped showers and periods of rain over most areas during the 25th. By the 26th a Tutt low was centered over Yucatan and provided support for a surface trough extending from the Bay of Campeche to the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Showers, periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms developed over and offshore northern and central areas of the country through the 27th. During the 28th a surface low over the northwestern Caribbean supported a northwesterly flow over our area and weather conditions turned out mainly fair with clear skies at night and little or no rainfall.
Cloudy conditions (layered low and high clouds) prevailed during the 29th and 30th with a moist southerly flow aloft and northwesterly low level flow which confined most showers and thunderstorms to coastal waters east of the reef. However by the evening, showers and thunderstorms developed from near SandHill south-southeastwards to just west of Dangriga and drifted westwards, with a few more developing over southern coastal waters during the night.
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Total October 2016 |
Normal |
| Libertad |
96 |
181.8 |
| Tower Hill |
79.2 |
178.6 |
| Airport |
128.9 |
281.9 |
| Central Farm |
131.8 |
205.1 |
| Belmopan |
121 |
209.6 |
| Pomona |
229.4 |
301.1 |
| Melinda |
190.1 |
287.3 |
| Spanish Lookout |
169.3 |
205.9 |
| Savannah |
290.6 |
277.5 |
| Punta Gorda |
232.2 |
346.6 |
| SJC (Belize City) |
178.6 |
259.6 |
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The month of November saw above average rainfall over central portions of the country; while the south and north saw below average, with the north well below. Two rain events, one at the begriming of the month and the other near the end, were primarily responsible for the greater than normal rainfall over central areas. Only one weak cold front crossed the country, and the predominant surface flow was from the northeast. No new temperature record was set.
The month started out with some rain. A surface trof that extended from Belize eastward was the focus for showers and thunderstorms during the first two days, especially in the nights. The moisture was high and the upper pattern diffluent, with an upper anticyclone centered over our area. Belize City received more than four inches of rain on the 2nd, while San Pedro and some central stations got more than two inches. The next three days (3rd,4th,5th) saw a few showers over some areas, as the trof drifted south and dissipated and a moderate northeast surface flow, supported by a ridge over the western Gulf of Mexico, prevailed. The upper pattern was neutral. The moisture decreased and showers were isolated from the 6th to the 8th. A broad low level trof over the central Caribbean Sea resulted in a light northeast airflow over the northwest Caribbean and Belize.
From the 9th to the 12th a few showers developed mainly in a diurnal manner; ie mostly inland during the daytime and over the coast at night. A light north-northeast airflow was supported by a surface trof over the NW Caribbean Sea just east of Belize and a ridge over southern Mexico. Some southern coastal stations recorded one to two inches on the 11th and 12th. A decrease in available moisture resulted in mainly fair weather, with only isolated showers, on the 13th, then a few showers over the south the next day. It was mostly sunny on the 15th with little or no rain. A light northerly airflow prevailed and a weak cold front reached NW Yucatan. The cold front crossed Belize the next day with a few showers and light rain developing mainly over central and southern districts. Rainfall was minimal with this front, and mostly less than one quarter of an inch. The 17th and 18th saw isolated showers mainly over the south, as a northeast airflow prevailed. A broad low pressure area developed over the SW Caribbean Sea east of Nicaragua and high pressures dominated the Gulf of Mexico. The flow backed to the NNE the next two days (19th, 20th) and mainly fair weather prevailed over the mainland, while a few showers developed over the sea. The moisture was relatively low and the upper pattern generally convergent.
Skies became cloudy on the 21st with a few showers and light rain over central and southern areas, as tropical storm Otto formed east of Nicaragua. Otto would remain almost stationary, become a hurricane, then cross over southern Nicaragua on the 24th. Meanwhile, a few showers prevailed over the country through the 24th, except on the 22nd, when showers were isolated. Melinda recorded four and one half inches of rain on the 24th. High pressures dominated the Gulf of Mexico and north-easterlies prevailed over Belize over these days, as another cold front reached northern Yucatan on the 21st, then moved east without crossing Belize. Skies became overcast on Friday 25th with frequent showers and periods of rain over most areas. A moist north-northeasterly airflow, that was convergent over and just east of Belize, prevailed. Rainfall was heaviest along the coast and over the south. Belize City recorded more than four inches of rain for 25th, and some streets were flooded all day. The next day, showers and rain decreased during the morning, to become generally isolated by evening. The moisture decreased and winds became northeast by Sunday 27th and showers remained isolated. The flow then veered to the southeast during the last three days and the moisture decreased, which supported only isolated showers. The surface ridge moved east and out of the Gulf of Mexico, while low pressures developed over the western Gulf and NE Mexico/ Bay of Campeche ahead of a cold front that entered the NW Gulf of Mexico the last day of the month.
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Climatology shows that the main features influencing weather across the country of Belize in December are cold fronts, upper level troughs and the development of moist northeasterly airflows in the area. There was no frontal passage in December of 2016. However, rainfall was above normal for most areas and this was caused by a rather moist tropical air mass that affected the country. Additionally, an upper level ridge persisted over the southwest Caribbean for a major part of the month. This blocked the fronts from entering the area and also supported instability aloft which resulted in deep convection over the area particularly on the 26th of the month.
On the first day of December a marginally moist and light easterly airflow over the area supported cloudy skies at times with a few showers mainly over northern coastal areas of the country. A slack pressure pattern dominated from the 2nd through to the 3rd and moisture also decreased over the area. This supported mainly fair conditions with only isolated showers across the country. The flow veered even further to the east-southeast on the 4th and 5th supporting mainly fair, warm and mostly dry weather. Similar weather continued on the 6th but isolated showers affected inland areas on that day.
In response to a cold front that descended into the Bay of Campeche on the 7th and later became stationary over extreme northern Yucatan, the surface flow backed to the east on the 7th and then to the east-northeast on the 8th through to the 11th. This resulted in a gradual increase in moisture over the area. While the 7th was still mainly fair with only isolated showers, the 8th became cloudy at times with a few showers across the country and similar weather persisted through to the 11th of the month.
Moisture would increase further on the 12th as a trof developed over the western Caribbean linked to a low pressure system crossing Nicaragua. This resulted in cloudy skies with a few showers and periods of rain. The trof was almost over the country on the 13th causing a moist northeasterly surface flow to develop. Furthermore, the upper levels were quite divergent and this supported cloudy skies with several showers, periods of rain and thunderstorms over the country. This was the first major rainfall event for the month resulting in rainfall totals of over an inch in the Belize City, Ladyville and the San Pedro Area. Conditions continued moist and unstable on the 14th but rainfall occurred mostly in the south that day with Punta Gorda receiving about an inch of rainfall.
Moisture decreased on the 15th and 16th but a few showers still affected southern and central areas of the country. Improvements continued on the 17th as the flow veered more to the east and by the 18th a dry easterly to southeasterly flow supported mainly fair conditions with only isolated showers.
The surface flow shifted abruptly to the east-northeast on the 19th as a cold front entered the central Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the flow was convergent and gusty over the area. This factor coupled with an increase in moisture supported cloudy skies at times with a few showers across the country on the 19th and 20th of the month. Additionally, a broad trof developed over the northwest Caribbean on the 20th and persisted through to the 21st. Therefore, the gusty northeasterly flow persisted but showers decreased on the 21st. By the 22nd conditions were mainly fair with only isolated showers. Conditions continued relatively dry over the area on the 23rd but moisture increased later in the night resulting in an increase in showers.
Conditions were relatively moist on the 24th and 25th resulting in cloudy skies at times with a few showers. These occurred mostly in the south on Christmas Day. Weather conditions deteriorated further on the 26th as an upper ridge east of the area coupled with trofing to the west supported a divergent and moist South-Southwesterly flow aloft. Skies were cloudy to overcast that day with some showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain over most areas. This was the second major rainfall event for the month. Belmopan in the west and Kendall in the south recorded almost an inch and a half of rainfall.
Relatively moist conditions persisted over the area from the 27th through to the 29th although the upper levels had become less divergent. The result was cloudy skies at times with a few showers mainly over central and southern areas. Moisture decreased further on the 30th and 31st resulting in partly cloudy skies with shower activity becoming generally isolated.
The graph and maps below show the rainfall recorded in December 2016 versus the climatological mean for the month for a few of the weather stations across the country. These graphics show most stations recorded above average rainfall except for those in the western Cayo District that recorded below average.
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
January 2017 started out with beautiful weather. For the first three days, a dry south-easterly flow prevaile, which supported little or no rainfall. On the fourth day, only isolated showers were observed, followed by the fifth and sixth, experiencing fair conditions.
On the seventh, the country experienced pre-frontal activity. Showers and thundershowers were observed, followed by the passage of a cold front. The eight day met dry and gusty conditions. Wind speeds ranged between fifteen and thirty knots. On the ninth, wind speeds abated, but dry conditions continued. However, a few showers were observed around the country during the night.
From the tenth through to the seventeenth, a series of high pressure ridges traversed the Gulf of Mexico and the Northwest Caribbean Sea. These supported and maintained a relatively moist north-easterly flow across Belize. The country experienced light showers each and every day during this period.
Conditions changed with the onset of a dry east to south-easterly flow from the eighteenth to the twenty-first. Once again, fair conditions prevailed with little or no rainfall.
On the twenty-second night, another cold front crossed the country. This time, pre-frontal activity was minimal. Only the Corozal District experienced light isolated showers.
From the twenty-third to the twenty-seventh, fair, cool and dry conditions prevailed. The twenty-eight was met with isolated showers , followed by a few showers on the twenty-ninth, with the passage of a third cold front. The thirtieth was dry and windy, while the last day was cool and dry.
In conclusion, observation showed three cold fronts crossed Belize during January, 2017. Only the first was accompanied by a few thundershowers. Rainfall data collected indicated that rainfall for this month was below normal.
| Station |
Total January 2017 |
Normal |
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| Libertad |
47.3 |
59.4 |
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| Towerhill |
35.4 |
72.4 |
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| Airport |
71.7 |
98.3 |
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| Belmopan |
82.8 |
125 |
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| Central Farm |
87.7 |
115.6 |
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| Spanish Lookout |
54.6 |
93.4 |
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| Melinda |
120.4 |
157.9 |
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| Pomona |
70.9 |
162.7 |
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| Savannah |
119.7 |
135.7 |
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
February 1st 2017 saw a light easterly surface flow prevailing, while at upper levels a trough east of our area supported a convergent / subsident northwesterly flow over our area. Mostly cloudy skies prevailed with little or no rainfall over the mainland, while a few showers over central coastal waters early, drifted on-shore with a few more developing inland during the afternoon and and over-night into the 2nd. Light winds supported some coastal convergence and isolated early morning showers into the 3rd. During the next few days through 13th an east-northeasterly flow supported low level moisture through the lower 10,000ft and night-time / early-morning showers occurred over the south and some central areas of the country.
Mainly fair, warm and dry weather prevailed during Tuesday 14th through Monday 20th as the upper level pattern continued convergent / subsident and a light to moderate east-southeasterly surface / low level flow developed. During the 15th and 16th a frontal boundary was positioned over the Bay of Campeche and a pre-frontal shear-line drifted across Yucatan - Guatemala and northern Belize over-night but supported only isolated showers in the northwesterly flow along with isolated afternoon showers resulting from day-time heating over the Maya Mountains. The shear-line rapidly weakened as it retrogress over the area with the southeasterly flow returning. Upper level moisture increased during Friday 17th as a trough moved nearer our area, while a cold front stalled across central Yucatan then retrogressed and dissipated while the east-southeasterly surface / low level flow continued to dominate.
By the 20th a deep layer trough to the west and northwest supported rapid deepening of a surface low over Texas / Louisiana. the low ejected across he southeastern United States with the associated cold front swinging east and sotheast to Yucatan by the 22nd, while a pre-frontal triough drifted over our area and into the northwestern caribbean sea. The relatively weak frontal boundary would eventually drift over the extreme Northwest Caribbean by Wednesday 22nd, while the associated shear-line continued southeast to southern Costa Rica / Panama. Few showers affected the south during the afternoon / evening of the Tuesday 21st and the northern / central areas through early night-time. A few more showers developed over the northern districts over-night into the 22nd and drifted eastwards to coastal waters by day break. early morning temperatures were slightly cooler where as relatively warm daytime temperatures occurred during Wednesday 22nd through Friday 24th.
An east-southeasterly airflow supported mainly fair weather during 23rd and 24th with isolated afternoon thunderstorms developing over the Maya Moutains during the 25th. By the 26th broad troughing developed over the Northwest Caribbean and supported an east-northeasterly flow. The trough sheared northwestward across Yucatan and the flow veered to the southeast by the 26th with insignificant increase in moisture and shower activity. Mainly fair weather continued during Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th.
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The month of March in Belize is typically characterized by windy conditions, with winds blowing generally from the East; March climatologically has the highest average wind speed. While thunderstorm activity would be limited during this time of the dry season, some areas of the country would experience light to moderate showers or rain. Normal rainfall amounts would range from about 30mm over northern parts of the country, to about 80mm over southern parts of the country. This March of 2017 saw only one cold front crossing Belize near mid-month, supporting a few days of mild / relatively cool temperatures across the country.
On the first day, Belize experienced a seasonably moderate (10-20 knots) easterly surface flow, with skies being clear to partly cloudy. Showers were isolated, and concentrated especially over southern areas of the country. Winds continued moderate, becoming gusty for a few days, then backing to become east-to-northeasterly from the 2nd to the 11th of the month. During this time, water vapor satellite imagery showed that the upper levels remained relatively dry over Belize. Showers were generally isolated on the 2nd. Then, a cold front - which had crossed the Gulf of Mexico and entered the northern Caribbean around the 4th - had become stationary near Jamaica area. The east-to-northeasterly surface flow brought over pockets of moisture from the western Caribbean waters. As a result of pre-frontal activity and the passing of the front over the northwestern / western Caribbean, the 3rd to the 11th saw some cloudy spells, along with a few showers affecting mostly central and southern areas of the country. There was a break on the 9th, however, where little rainfall was noted on radar imagery.
From the 12th to the 16th, the upper levels were shown to be relatively moist over Belize area. On the 12th and 13th, the surface winds had veered to become east-to-southeasterly, and lighter, as the pressure gradient had slackened over the area. With such an airflow at the surface, skies were partly cloudy with characteristically relatively drier conditions. Only isolated showers were noted, with a possible isolated thunderstorm developing over the Maya Mountains area in the afternoon of the 12th. Later on, the pressure gradient tightened once more over the area, and winds backed to become north-to-northeasterly, also becoming gusty at times. With a relatively moister airflow, skies were noted to be mostly cloudy during the 14th to the 16th. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms were noted over the north and along some coastal areas of the country at first, supported by pre-frontal activity; and then, a few showers affected mostly coastal/offshore areas, as well as central and southern mainland areas, including the Maya Mountains. During the night of the 15th, mostly clear skies were observed, with cool overnight temperatures in the wake of the passing of the cold front. This cold front had become stationary over Jamaica/Eastern Cuba area for a few days afterwards, providing pockets of moisture to flow over Belize with the northeasterly airflow.
The final couple weeks in the month saw clear to partly cloudy skies with the weather being mainly fair, and only isolated showers developed during the 17th to the 24th. Middle to upper levels had become mostly dry once again. Meanwhile, low level moisture capped near the surface had been supported by moderate and gusty northeasterly airflow, which had backed to become north-to-northeasterly by the 19th. Onwards, surface winds veered and weakened, becoming east-to-northeasterly through to the 23rd; becoming predominantly easterly for a couple days; and then veering once more to become east-southeasterly from the 27th. The winds increased in strength again, as pressure gradient over the area strengthened once more.
From the 25th to the 30th, the weather continued mainly fair and dry, with observations of little to no rainfall. Then, the 31st saw similar weather, with hazy conditions. On this last day of the month, relatively moist and relatively unstable environmental conditions, along with daytime heating, supported the development of an afternoon thunderstorm over the Maya Mountains, near the western border with Guatemala.
As mentioned throughout the discussion, most of the rainfall activity occurred over southern areas of the country. Resulting comparisons of total rainfall in March, 2017 against normal rainfall for March, climatologically, (at some of the key weather stations set up across the country) are shown in the figure below.
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
April 2017 began typical with hot, hazy and dry weather as an East-Southeast airflow prevailed over the country from the 1st to the 5th. Only isolated thunderstoms developed mainly over the Maya Mountains and near the western border during the first few days of the month. As is customary in April the Atlantic High Pressure ridge dominated the region and heat lows developed over Mexico producing a tight pressure gradient resulting in gusty winds. By the 6th a light to moderate East-northeasterly flow developed due to high pressure ridges northwest and northeast of the country. On the 7th a cold front was over the Yucatan Peninsula which supported the east-northeast flow and a few showers over northern and western Belize. The east-northeast surface flow persisted on the 8th and isolated showers affected central and southern coastal areas during the morning then conditions returned to hot and dry by afternoon. Mainly fair and warm conditions continued on the 9th and 10th with isolated showers over northern areas on the 9th and over the south on the 10th.
A light to moderate east-northeast surface flow prevailed from the 11th to the 15th as the Atlantic Ridge extended into the Gulf of Mexico and a weak low pressure was north of Puerto Rico with troughing extended into the northeast Caribbean. On the 11th a few showers affected central portions of the country and offshore Dangriga in the afternoon. Moisture was high over the south on the 12th and a few showers developed south and over the Maya Mountains. On the 13th morning scattered showers were observed across the country then conditions became generally fair with a few showers mostly over central and southern areas. An increase in low level moisture on the 14th resulted in a few showers over the sea and in the north. On the 15th morning a few showers developed south then moved over central areas in the afternoon. Middlesex recorded 17.2mm of rainfall. By the 16th a slack pressure gradient was established between a broad ridge over the northwest Caribbean and a surface trough over the south central Caribbean resulting in a light easterly airflow.
The 17th started with a light to moderate easterly flow and a few morning showers across the country then by afternoon skies became increasingly cloudy as numerous thunderstorms developed over central and northern areas. At the PGIA intense thunderstorms and severe lightning were observed along with moderate to heavy showers. An upper level trough was over the Gulf of Mexico which produced a divergent pattern over the area. The evening sounding showed a moist and unstable atmosphere with precipitable water value 44.86 and K index of 29.9. The 18th to the 20th a few showers and isolated thunderstorms continued to affect mostly coastal and southern parts of the country in the morning and the Maya Mountains in the afternoon due to daytime heating. On the 18th San Pedro recorded 36.1mm of rainfall while Dangriga received 25.3mm. The 19th saw a decrease in showers in the evening but during the night showers, light rain, isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds affected northern and coastal areas as an upper level low over the Bay of Campeche shifted eastward and a diffluent pattern was over northern Belize. Showers continued on the 20th with Belmopan recording rainfall of 55.6mm, Belize City 44.5mm and PGIA 36.8mm. By evening moisture and instability decreased, and Tropical Storm Arlene, the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed over the Atlantic.
The 21st was mostly fair and dry as a slack pressure gradient over the area kept winds light. Tropical Storm Arlene remained over open waters and was eventually absorbed by an extra-tropical low pressure system losing its tropical characteristics. On the 22nd a light east-southeast airflow prevailed producing fairly warm conditions. Isolated thunderstorms developed inland due to intense daytime heating and moved over Biscayne Village producing a freak storm or tornadic type phenomenon. Local reports suggest about eight homes were damaged. On the 23rd winds were light and from the north-northwest due to ridging west and northwest of the country. As a result temperatures were relatively mild. The 24th started with a north-northwest flow but during the daytime winds shifted to the southeast as thermal troughs developed over Mexico.
The last week of the month seasonably warm, hazy and dry conditions resumed over the country as the Atlantic High Pressure ridge dominated. On the 25th weak ridging over the northwest Caribbean and a broad trough over the western Gulf of Mexico with axis along eastern Mexico maintained a light east-southeast airflow. A cold front dissipated over the extreme northwest Caribbean and northern Yucatan. From the 26th to the 27th thermal troughs over Mexico and the Atlantic ridge supported a moderate east-southeast airflow that became strong and gusty from the 28th to the 30th as the pressure gradient tightened. These strong winds produced rough sea conditions and as a result small craft warnings were issued.
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Monthly Rainfall Summary, May 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
The rainfall summary for May 2017 shows that with the exception of Rio Bravo and Tower Hill located over the northwestern Orange Walk districts, most areas of the country recorded below normal rainfall for the month. Areas with driest conditions were central coastal areas. That is coastal Belize and Stann Creek Districts. The deficit in rainfall was likely due to a slow start of the rainy season which normally commences in mid to late May over the south and gradually make its way north by the end of May into Early June. The maps below show the total rainfall recorded at some key stations and how that total compares to the normal for the month of April. A similar comparison is shown by the bar graph that compares the recorded total for May 2017 againt the climatological norm for the month.
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
THE MONTH OF MAY STARTED WITH MAINLY FAIR, WARM AND DRY WEATHER WITH AN EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY SURFACE FLOW OVER BELIZE AS THE NORTH ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXTENDED INTO THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN AND DOMINATED THE AREA. RIDGING WAS NOTED AT THE UPPER LEVELS FOR THE FIRST THREE DAYS WITH RELATIVELY LOW AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE, RESULTING IN ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE COUNTRY. A COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO THAT PREGRESSED EASTWARD. AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHED THE AREA, CONDITIONS BECAME MORE FAVORABLE FOR SHOWERY ACTIVITY AS MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY INCREASED OVER THE AREA. ON MAY 4TH, INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS LASTING FOR OVER TWO HOURS AND PROGRESSED ON A SOUTHWESTWARD PATH BEFORE DISSIPATING LEAVING BEHIND DENSE CIRRUS CLOUDS STREAMING OVER THE AREA. CLOUDINESS AND MOISTURE INCREASED OVER THE AREA DUE TO THE COLD FRONT LOCATED OVER LOUSIANNA AND EXTENDING DOWN INTO THE BAY OF CAMPECHE. A FEW SHOWERS AND THUDERSTORMS OCCURED ON MAY 5TH OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ASSOCIATED WITH A PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH TO THE EAST OF BELIZE SUPPORTED BY AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE LEVELS OVER THE AREA WITH THE LATEST PWAT VALUE BETWEEN 55-60MM AND A DIVERGENT UPPER LEVELS DUE TO AN UPPERL LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE COUNTRY. A NORTH TO NORTHWESTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED OVER THE AREA AND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTROMS SPREAD TO MOST AREAS AS THE COLD FRONT CROSSED THE COUNTRY OVERNIGHT AND REMAINED STATIONARY OVER THE GULF OF HONDURAS AND SOUTHERN BELIZE. WEATHER CONDTIONS IMPROVED OVER THE COUNTRY OF MAY 7TH AS THE UPPER LEVELS WERE CONVERGENT, MOISTURE LEVELS DECREASED AND RIDGING DOMINATED THE AREA RESULTING IN SUBSIDENCE AND SUPPRESSION OF CONVECTION.
SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED OVER THE COUNTRY FROM THE 8TH TO THE 11TH OF MAY WITH A RIDGE AT THE UPPER LEVELS IN A CONVERGENT PATTERN IN DRY LOW LEVEL CONDITIONS IN AN EAST TO NORTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW VEERING TO THE SOUTHEAST. ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED OVER THE COUNTRY DURING THIS PERIOD. THIS DRY SPELL WAS INTERUPTED BY A LATE SEASON COLD FRONT WHICH RESULTED IN ANOTHER INCREASE AND CLOUDINESS AND MOISTURE OVER THE COUNTRY FROM THE SURFACE THROUGH TO THE MID-UPPER LEVELS. CONDITIONS BECAME WEAKLY DIVERGENT AT THE UPPER LEVELS AND A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHEAST BENQUE VIEJO ON MAY 12TH AND OVER CENTRAL AND INLAND AREAS ON THE 13TH WITH VERY INTENSE THUNDERSTORM ACITIVITY (YELLOW BAND) DETECTED ON RADAR IMAGERY. SHOWERY ACTIVITY INCREASED OVER THE COUNTRY ON THE 14TH AND 15TH WITH SOME SHOWERS, PERIODS OF RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OBSERVED OVER MOST AREAS. THIS ACTIVITY WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY A TROUGH OVER THE YUCATAN PENNINSULA, A COLD FRONT EXTENDING INTO THE BAY OF CAMPECHE AND A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WHICH DOMINATED CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN. A LIGHT WEST TO NORTHWESTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED OVER THE AREA. RECORD LEVELS OF PRECIPITATION WERE OBSERVED ON THE 15TH OVER THE NORTH AND SOUTHEAST COAST WITH HIGHEST RAINFALL VALUES RECORDED IN ORANGE WALK (54.4MM), TOLEDO (33.4MM) AND COROZAL (26.4MM).
SKIES BECAME PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLEAR AS THE ATMOSPHERE BECAME DRIER AND MORE STABLE OVER BELIZE. IN SURROUNDING REGIONS LIKE THE YUCATAN AND THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN, TROUGHING WAS OBSERVED AT THE LOW AND UPPER LEVELS WHILE A DEEP RIDGE WAS OVER MEXICO AND BELIZE. HOWEVER, THE NORTH ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WAS THE DOMINANT FEATHER OVER THE AREA AS IT EXTENDED INTO THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN. THEREFORE, SHOWERS WERE ISOLATED EXCEPT FOR A THUNDERSTORM THAT OCCURED OVER THE WESTERN BORDER AND OVER GUATEMALA ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 18TH AND 20TH. THE WINDS AT THE UPPER LEVEL HAD A WEST TO NORTHWESTERLY COMPONENT DUE TO THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO THE EAST OF BELIZE, WHILE AT THE SURFACE, A LIGHT EASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED. ON THE 21ST AND 22ND, A FEW PASSHING SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURED OVER THE NORTHERN AND INLAND PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY AT FIRST, THEN OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS AS A RESULT OF A TROUGH LOCATED IN THE BAY OF CAMPECHE AND RESULTING INCREASES IN UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE AND PWAT NEAR BELIZE. THE SURFACE WINDS BECAME A BIT GUSTY WITH AN EASTERLY AIRFLOW DURING THESE DAYS.
AS THE MONTH NEARED ITS END, CONDITIONS BECAME FAIR, DRY AND HOT OVER THE COUNTRY WITH RIDGING OVER THE CARIBBEAN AND A MODERATE EAST TO SOUTHEASTLY FLOW. SHOWERS WERE ISOLATED OVER INLAND AREAS DUE TO DAY TIME HEATING. ANOTHER LATE SEASON COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO AND THE BAY OF CAMPECHE ON THE 24TH WHICH RESULTED IN CONDITIONS BECOMING CLOUDY AND MORE UNSTABLE OVER THE REGION. STRONG COVECTIVE ACTIVITY WAS AHEAD OF THE COLD FROM THAT RESULTED IN STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE INLAND AREAS OF BELMOPAN, SPANISH LOOKOUT AND BENQUE VIEJO RESULTING IN STRONG WINDS OF 37 AND 39 KNOTS IN BELMOPAN AND BALDY BEACON AND 16MM OF RAINFALL. A TROPICAL WAVE WAS ALSO LOCATED 87 W SOUTH OF 18N WHILE THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN WAS DIVERGENT AND CONVERGENT AT THE LOW LEVELS.
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
JUNE IS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE RAINY SEASON IN BELIZE. JUNE 2017 BEGAN WITH GENERALLY FAIR CONDITIONS PREVAILING. A STRONG SOUTH-EASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED AND HIGH DAY-TIME AND NIGHT- TIME TEMPERATURES WERE RECORDED AROUND THE COUNTRY. THIS WAS THE GENERAL TREND FOR THE FIRST FIVE DAYS, EXCEPT THAT THE SOUTH AND INLAND AREAS EXPERIENCED A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
BETWEEN THE FIFTH AND NINTH, THE COUNTRY EXPERIENCED SHOWER, RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITIES WHICH ALL ORIGINATED INLAND AND SPREAD TO COASTAL AREAS. A HIGH CENTER AT 200MB MOVED OVER THE AREA ON THE TENTH AND ENHANCED LOW LEVEL INSTABILITY, AT WHICH POINT, HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. HENCE, SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDE-SPREAD RAIN DAMPENED THE COUNTRY THROUGH TO THE SIXTEENTH.
ON THE SEVENTEENTH, A BROAD TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN. THIS PRODUCED SHOWERS, RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON THE NINETEENTH , THE SYSTEM WAS DECLARED AS POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE III. A THIS TIME AN ELONGATED TROUGH STRETCHED FROM A FEW HUNDRED MILES SOUTH, SOUTH-EAST OF LOUISIANA TO HONDURAS. THE BIRTH OF TROPICAL STORM CINDY WAS DECLARED ON THE TWENTIETH. THE ASSOCIATED TROUGH CONTINUED TO SUPPORT SHOWERS, RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS BELIZE , THROUGH TO THE TWENTY-SECOND. THE COUNTRY GOT A BREAK ON THE TWENTY-THIRD WITH GENERALLY FAIR WEATHER .
ON THE TWENTY-FOURTH A TROPICAL WAVE IN THE AREA SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CAYO DISTRICT IN THE AFTERNOON, LASTING ALMOST TWO TO THREE HOURS. THE RESULT WAS LOCALIZED FLOODING IN SAN IGNACIO TOWN AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
A FEW SHOWERS AFFECTED PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH AND CONTINUED SO THROUGH TO THE END OF THE MONTH, AS THREE MORE TROPICAL WAVES CROSSED THE COUNTRY DURING THIS PERIOD.
IN CONCLUSION, JUNE 2017 WAS A RAINY PERIOD. HIGH DAY-TIME AND NIGHT-TIME TEMPERATURES WERE ALSO RECORDED. FOUR TROPICAL WAVES CROSSED THE COUNTRY, BUT ONLY THREE SUPPORTED RAINFALL ACTIVITY. THE BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE, TURNED TROPICAL CINDY WAS THE MAIN PRODUCER OF RAINFALL DURING THIS MONTH. DATA SHOWS THAT RAINFALL AMOUNTS WERE ABOVE THE NORMAL AT A FEW STATIONS, WHILE NIGHT-TIME TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE AVERAGE.
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Monthly Rainfall Summary, July 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
MOIST AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING SATURDAY 1ST AND SUNDAY 2ND. A GUSTY EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED AT THE SURFACE AND LOW LEVELS WHILE A TROPICAL UPPER TROPOSPHERIC TROUGH EXTENDED TO A LOW OVER YUCATAN AND CONTINUED SOUTH TO GUATEMALA. A TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED THE COUNTRY OVERNIGHT AND A DIVERGENT SOUTH-WESTERLY UPPER LEVEL FLOW SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT OF AN MCS OVER THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY WITH PUNTA GORDA RECORDING 125MM OF RAINFALL BY DAYBREAK. A FEW SHOWERS CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY AS THE TROPICAL WAVE MOVED AWAY WHILE ISOLATED SHOWER ACTIVITY AFFECTED MOST OTHER AREAS DURING MONDAY 3RD. BY THE 4TH SHOWER ACTIVITY CONTINUED GENERALLY ISOLATED OVER MOST AREAS, EXCEPT FOR A FEW MORE OVER THE SOUTH AT NIGHT-TIME.
MOIST AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS PREVAILED AS ANOTHER TROPICAL WAVE APPROACHED AND CROSSED THE COUNTRY DURING WEDNESDAY 5TH. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS AND SPREAD TO SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS DURING THE NIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND RAIN SPREADING TO THE NORTH DURING THE DAYTIME. HEAVY RAINFALL AFFECTED THE CENTRAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE MORNING OF THURSDAY 6TH, DECREASING DURING THE AFTERNOON. AN INACTIVE TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED THE COUNTRY THURSDAY 7TH AND MAINLY FAIR WEATHER PREVAILED OVER MOST AREAS DURING THE 7TH AND 8TH, EXCEPT FOR A FEW NIGHT-TIME SHOWERS OVER THE SOUTH.
NOCTURNAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THEN A TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED OVER-NIGHT MONDAY 10TH INTO TUESDAY 11TH. AVAILABLE MOISTURE INCREASED WITH THIS WAVE AND PERSISTED THROUGH WEDNESDAY 12TH AS ANOTHER TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER THE SOUTH THEN SPREAD TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS DURING THE DAYTIME. MAINLY FAIR WEATHER PREVAILED DURING THURSDAY 13TH BUT HEAVY RAINFALL AFFECTED THE TOLEDO DISTRICT DURING THE NIGHT WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-3 INCHES AT A COUPLE STATIONS. DURING FRIDAY 14TH AND SATURDAY 15TH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WAS CENTERED OVER YUCATAN AND SUPPORTED A DIVERGENT PATTERN ALOFT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED MOSTLY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
A TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED THE COUNTRY BETWEEN 18Z AND 24Z SUNDAY 16TH AND A GUSTY EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW SUPPORTED A LINE OF SHOWERS ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS THROUGH MID-DAY. AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS.
MAINLY FAIR WEATHER PREVAILED DURING MONDAY 17TH THEN YET ANOTHER TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED OVER-NIGHT INTO TUESDAY 18TH. HOWEVER WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUED MAINLY FAIR. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED MOST AREAS DURING THE EARLY MORNING OF WEDNESDAY 19TH BECOMING GENERALLY ISOLATED DURING THE AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THURSDAY 20TH. A FEW EARLY MORNING SHOWERS AFFECTED THE SOUTH DURING FRIDAY 21ST WITH GENERALLY ISOLATED ACTIVITY ELSEWHERE AND AFTER. A RELATIVELY INACTIVE TROPICAL WAVE (THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM DON) CROSSED THE COUNTRY OVER-NIGHT AND MAINLY FAIR WEATHER CONTINUED DURING THE MORNING WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND THROUGH-OUT THE NIGHT. RELATIVELY MOIST AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING SUNDAY 23RD THROUGH TUESDAY 25TH AS A TROPICAL WAVE APPROACHED AND CROSSED THE COUNTRY AND WAS ENHANCED BY DIVERGENT UPPER LEVEL CONDITIONS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED MOSTLY SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS DURING THE NIGHT-TIME.
MAINLY FAIR WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PREVAILED DURING WEDNESDAY 26TH. A UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO THE NORTH PROVIDED ENHANCEMENT FOR DIURNAL CONVECTION THROUGH FRIDAY 28TH. A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER THE TOLEDO DISTRICT DURING THE NIGHT-TIME WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS INLAND DURING PEAK DAYTIME HEATING HOURS. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MAINLY FAIR DURING THE DAYTIME OF SATURDAY 29TH AND SUNDAY 30TH, HOWEVER NIGHT-TIME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
| Station | Total Monthly Rainfall (mm) | Normal Monthly Rainfall (mm) |
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| Libertad (Corozal) | 79.2 | 175.8 | | Tower Hill (Orange Walk) | 119.5 | 178.3 | | Philip Goldson Airport | 208.7 | 212 | | Belmopan | 224.2 | 279.8 | | Central Farm | 226.6 | 218.7 | | Spanish Lookout | 191.5 | 212 | | Pomona | 293.6 | 336 | | Melinda | 259.4 | 253.2 | | Savannah Forest Stn | 270.7 | 286.9 | | Punta Gorda Agri. Stn | 819.3 | 678.8 |
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Monthly Rainfall Summary, August 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
THE MONTH OF AUGUST SAW RAINFALL LESS THAN NORMAL AT ALL STATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE NORTH AND SOME CENTRAL AREAS, WHERE LESS THAN 45 PERCENT WAS RECIEVED. TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES THREATENED TO AFFECT BELIZE; TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN PASSED TO THE NORTH WITHOUT MUCH IMPACT, AND TROPICAL STORM HARVEY DISSIPATED BEFORE REACHING OUR AREA AND THE REMNANT LOW MOVED ACROSS THE YUCATAN PENINSULA, AGAIN WITH LITTLE EFFECT.
A MODERATE AND RELATIVELY DRY EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED AT THE BEGINING OF THE MONTH AND SUPPORTED MAILY FAIR WEATHER FROM THE 1ST TO THE 3RD. THE UPPER PATTERN WAS NEUTRAL TO WEAKLY CONVERGENT. SHOWERS WERE ISOLATED DURING THE DAYTIME, WITH A FEW MORE ALONG WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SOUTH AT NIGHT. RAINFALL OCCURRED MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH AND WAS NOT MORE THAN HALF AN INCH PER DAY. THE SURFACE AND LOW LEVEL FLOW BACKED TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST THEN NORTHEAST THROUGH THE NEXT THREE DAYS (4-6) AS A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE MOVED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA. A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED MAINLY INLAND DURING THE DAYTIME AND OVER THE SOUTH DURING THE NIGHT. PUNTA GORDA RECORDED JUST OVER THREE INCHES OF RAIN ON THE 5TH. THE WAVE DEVELOPED A LOW PRESSURE AREA NEAR 15N/82W AND WAS GIVEN A POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE STATUS ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 6TH. BY THAT NIGHT, TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN FORMED OVER THE NW CARIBBEAN SEA AND WAS HEADING FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA JUST NORTH OF BELIZE. SOME SHOWERS AND LIGHT RAIN AFFECTED MOST AREAS DURING THAT NIGHT AND CONTINUED THE NEXT DAY AS TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN APPROACHED THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. ABOUT ONE AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN WERE RECORDED AT BELIZE CITY AND BLUE CREEK TOLEDO. TS FRANKLIN MOVED ACROSS YUCATAN AND SUPPORTED A GUSTY SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW OVER BELIZE ON THE 8TH. A FEW SHOWERS CONTINUED OVER CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS, WITH THE RAINS INCREASING OVER MOST AREAS THAT NIGHT. RAINFALL HOWEVER, WAS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED. THE NEXT TWO DAYS (9-10) SAW SKIES BECOMING CLOUDY AT TIMES WITH A FEW SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORMS OR LIGHT RAIN MAINLY OVER THE NORTH DURING THE DAYTIME AND OVER THE SOUTH IN THE NIGHT. SAN PEDRO RECEIVED ALMOST FOUR INCHES OF RAIN ON THE 9TH.
FROM THE 11TH TO THE 15TH, CONDITIONS DRIED OUT SOMEWHAT AS A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO SUPPORTED A GENERALLY EASTERLY SURFACE FLOW OVER OUR AREA. A NEUTRAL TO WEAKLY CONVERGENT UPPER PATTERN PREVAILED DURING THAT TIME. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED DURING THE DAYTIME, WITH A FEW MORE MAINLY OVER THE SOUTH AND SOME PARTS OF THE COAST AT NIGHT; WITH THE SOUTH RECEIVING MORE THAN TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL ON SOME NIGHTS. THE 16TH SAW A FEW SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL AREAS AS AN EAST-WEST LINE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS PERSISTED FOR MOST OF THE DAY OVER THAT AREA. OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS (17-19) THE WEATHER RETURNED TO MAINLY FAIR COUNTRYWIDE WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS, AND THE SURFACE FLOW BECAME MOSTLY EAST-NORTHEASTERLY. SHOWERS INCREASED OVER THE SOUTH ON SOME NIGHTS, WITH PUNTA GORDA RECORDING ONE AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN ON THE 17TH. OVER THOSE SAME DAYS, TS HARVEY FORMED EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES AND MOVED TO THE SOUTH CENTRAL CARIBBEAN, WITH THE OFFICIAL FORECAST CONSISTENTLY BRINGING IT TOWARDS BELIZE. (HARVEY DEGENERATED THAT NIGHT, AND THE REMNANT LOW PRESSURE MOVED WEST-NORTHWEST ACROSS THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN AND YUCATAN, THEN REFORMED ON THE 23RD IN THE BAY OF CAMPECHE.)
AN UPPER LOW OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO HELPED TO SUPPORT A FEW SHOWERS OVER INLAND AND SOUTHERN AREAS ON THE 20TH, WITH PUNTA GORDA RECORDING ALMOST THREE INCHES OF RAIN. AS THE REMNANTS OF HARVEY APPROACHED OUR AREA, THE SURFACE FLOW BACKED TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AND A FEW SHOWERS AND RAIN AFFECTED COASTAL AND NORTHERN AREAS ON THE 21ST, THEN MAINLY THE INTERIOR THE NEXT DAY AS THE LOW MOVED ACROSS THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. RAINFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM WAS AGAIN MUCH LESS THAN EXPECTED. TROPICAL DEPRESSION HARVEY OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO SUPPORTED A LIGHT EAST-SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW AND A GRADUAL DRYING OUT AT LOW LEVELS. THIS RESULTED IN GENERALLY ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON THE 23RD AND 24TH. THE NEXT DAY, A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED MAINLY INLAND AND OVER THE SOUTH, WITH MORE OVER THE SOUTH THAT NIGHT. THESE WERE SUPPORTED BY A WEAK TROPCAL WAVE. HURRICANE HARVEY MEANDERED OVER THE COAST OF TEXAS THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND A MODERATE EAST-SOUTHEAST SURFACE FLOW SUPPORTED MAINLY FAIR AND WARM WEATHER OVER BELIZE WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY INLAND IN THE AFTERNOON. THIS OCCURRED FROM THE 26TH TO THE 29TH WITH VERY LITTLE RAINFALL. A TROPICAL WAVE THEN SUPPORTED AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE AND A FEW SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST AREAS THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE MONTH. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL ON SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS ON THE 31ST.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
SEPTEMBER 2017 WAS THE MOST ACTIVE MONTH ON RECORD FOR THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON WITH THIRTEEN NAMED STORMS AND EIGHT HURRICANES, FIVE OF WHICH WERE MAJOR HURRICANES. THE PROXIMITY OF HURRICANE IRMA INFLUENCED WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR A FEW DAYS, HOWEVER NO TROPICAL CYCLONES TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY. THREE TROPICAL WAVES CROSSED THE COUNTRY PRODUCING MOIST AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS BUT MOST AREAS RECEIVED BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL DURING SEPTEMBER.
THE MONTH STARTED OUT FAIR WITH LIGHT SHOWERS ONLY OVER THE NORTHERN BELIZE DISTRICT AS AMODERATE EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED. BY THE SECOND DAY A WEAK TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED THE COUNTRY PRODUCING A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS WITH INCREASED ACTIVITY OVER THE SOUTH AND COAST OVERNIGHT. SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE SOUTH AND COAST ON THE THIRD MORNING AS A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SYSTEM OVER THE NORTHERN BAY OF CAMPECHE INTERACTED WITH THE TROPICAL WAVE. FROM THE FOURTH TO THE SIXTH A SLACK PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN AND THE YUCATAN PENINSULA DOMINATED THE AREA SUPPORTING LIGHT EASTERLY WINDS AND FAIR CONDITIONS WITH SHOWERS CONFINED TO THE MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON AND ALONG THE SOUTH COAST AT NIGHT. ON THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH WINDS REMAINED LIGHT AND CONDITIONS CONTINUED MOSTLY FAIR WITH ONLY A FEW EARLY MORNING SHOWERS ALONG THE COAST AND OVER THE INTERIOR DURING THE AFTERNOON. A BROAD CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE IRMA OVER NORTHERN CUBA SUPPORTED WEST TO NORTHWESTERLY WINDS ON THE NINTH ALONG WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER ROCKVILLE, DANGRIGA AND THE MAYA MOUNTAINS. THIS SYSTEM CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE COUNTRY ON THE TENTH PRODUCING A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SEA IN THE MORNING AND OVER THE NORTH IN THE AFTERNOON SHIFTING BACK TO THE SEA AND SOUTH DURING THE NIGHT.
CLOUDY SKIES ALONG WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED MAINLY NORTHERN AND WESTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ON THE ELEVENTH THEN THE SOUTH AND COAST OVERNIGHT AS HURRICANE IRMA APPROACHED FLORIDA. ON THE EVENING OF THE TWELFTH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASED OVER CENTRAL, COASTAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS AS A FEEDER BAND FROM HURRICANE IRMA MOVED OVER THE AREA. BY THE THIRTEENTH MAINLY FAIR CONDITIONS PREVAILED WITH ONLY A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE CAYO DISTRICT IN THE AFTERNOON AND OVER THE NORTH COAST DURING THE NIGHT. ON THE FOURTEENTH A 1011MB LOW PRESSURE WAS OVER THE COUNTRY AND SEVERAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS IN THE MORNING AND OVER WESTERN AREAS IN THE AFTERNOON WITH MOST OF THE ACTIVITY DIMINISHED BY NIGHTFALL. DURING THE FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH A SLACK PRESSURE GRADIENT DOMINATED THE AREA WITH MOSTLY FAIR CONDITIONS EXCEPT FOR INTENSE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE SOUTHERN TOLEDO DISTRICT OVERNIGHT ON THE FIFTEENTH. ON THE SEVENTEENTH A TROPICAL WAVE WAS EAST OF THE AREA AND SUPPORTED CLOUDY SPELLS ALONG WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ESPECIALLY SOUTH. THE TROPICAL WAVE TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY ON THE EIGHTEENTH WITH MODERATE SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST AREAS DURING THE MORNING THEN MOSTLY INLAND IN THE AFTERNOON AND OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS OVERNIGHT. ON THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CARIBBEAN SUPPORTED A LIGHT EAST TO SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW AND MOSTLY FAIR WEATHER WITH ONLY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AND A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON AND SOUTH AT NIGHT.
DURING THE TWENTY-FIRST TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH A SLACK PRESSURE PATTERN REMAINED OVER THE AREA THAT SUPPORTED LIGHT EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY SURFACE WINDS AND MAINLY FAIR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH MOST OF THE SHOWER ACTIVITY CONFINED TO THE MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON AND OVER THE SOUTH AND COAST AT NIGHTTIME. ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH LOW PRESSURES OVER MEXICO EXTENDED TO BELIZE AND SUPPORTED A MODERATE EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW AND WARM CONDITIONS WITH A FEW MORNING SHOWERS OVER THE ORANGE WALK DISTRICT THEN IN THE WEST DURING THE AFTERNOON AND ALONG THE SOUTH COAST AFTER SUNSET. THE CENTRAL AMERICAN MONSOON TROUGH EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHERN BELIZE ON THE TWENTY-SIXTH WHILE CONDITIONS CONTINUED FAIR AND WARM WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE EXTREME NORTH. A VERY WEAK SURFACE TROUGH WAS ANALYSED ALONG THE COAST ON THE TWENTY-SEVENTH BUT THE WEATHER REMAINED MOSTLY FAIR WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF ORANGE WALK IN THE AFTERNOON AND LIGHT SHOWERS ALONG THE COAST INCLUDING BELIZE CITY AND LADYVILLE OVERNIGHT. ON THE TWENTY-EIGHT ANOTHER TROPICAL WAVE CROSSED THE COUNTRY THAT PRODUCED A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER INLAND AREAS IN THE AFTERNOON THEN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS DURING THE EVENING AND NIGHT. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN A BROAD SURFACE TROUGH OVER THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN AND AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO ALONG WITH MOISTURE ADVECTED FROM THE MONSOON TROUGH SUPPORTED VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THE TWENTY-NINTH THAT RESULTED IN SEVERAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ESPECIALLY OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS, WHERE THE ACTIVITY OCCURRED MOST OF THE NIGHT INTO THE EARLY MORNING. BOTH TOWERHILL AND BELMOPAN RECEIVED MORE THAN AN INCH OF RAINFALL DURING THE TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PERIOD. THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH CONTINUED CLOUDY AND SHOWERY AS A SURFACE TROUGH OVER THE YUCATAN PENINSULA EXTENDED TO NORTHERN BELIZE PRODUCING HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ALONG THE COAST IN THE MORNING AND ALONG THE SOUTH COAST IN THE AFTERNOON WITH MOST OF THE ACTIVITY CONFINED TO OFFSHORE AREAS BY EVENING.
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IN BELIZE FALLS IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD BETWEEN THE WET AND DRY SEASONS. IT FALLS IN THE PERIOD WHEN BELIZE EXPERIENCES COOLER TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF THE PASSAGES OF COLD FRONTS, THE PROXIMITY OF STATIONARY FRONTS AND THE INFLUENCES OF HIGH PRESSURE RIDGES OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN.
NOVEMBER 2017 BEGAN WITH FAIR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE NOTED. A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN SUPPORTED A DRY NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW. ON THE SECOND AND THIRD DAYS, THE FLOW BECAME MOIST AND SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SHOWER ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND NINTH, GENERALLY FAIR WEATHER PREVAILED WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS DEVELOPING, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A DRY NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW. HOWEVER, ON THE FIFTH AND SEVENTH NIGHTS, SLIGHTLY MORE SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
FROM THE TENTH TO THE THIRTEENTH, MOIST CONDITIONS DEVELOPED AND SUPPORTED CLOUDY SKIES. EXCEPT FOR THE ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH NIGHTS, SHOWERS WERE CONFINED TO THE SEA AS A MOIST NORTH-WESTERLY FLOW PREVAILED.
ON THE FOURTEENTH, FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH, THE FLOW REMAINED MOIST, BUT SHOWERS NOW AFFECTED THE MAINLAND AS WELL. ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE NOTED ON THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH. HOWEVER, DURING THE EIGHTEENTH NIGHT, A MOIST NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW SUPPORTED AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS, LASTING THROUGH TO THE TWENTIETH, DECREASING DURING THE NIGHT.
FROM THE TWENTY-FIRST THROUGH TO THE TWENTY-SIXTH, FAIR, COOL AND DRY CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AS A DRY NORTH-WESTERLY FLOW DEVELOPED. FROM THE TWENTY-SIXTH THROUGH TO THE END OF THE MONTH GENERALLY FAIR AND COOL CONDITIONS PREVAILED , BUT ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE NOTED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
NOVEMBER 2017 SAW COOL TEMPERATURES, TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER, RAINFALL WAS BELOW NORMAL. NO COLD FRONTS CROSSED THE COUNTRY, WHILE A FEW STATIONARY FRONTS WERE OBSERVED OVER THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. HIGH PRESSURE RIDGES WERE IN ABUNDANCE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO AND OVER THENORTHWEST CARIBBEAN.
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Posts: 84,404
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2017
National Meteorological Service of Belize
THE MONTH OF DECEMBER ARRIVED WITH A NORTH-NORTHWESTERLY FLOW PREVAILING OVER OUR AREA AS A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDED FROM NORTHEASTERN HONDURAS TO NORTHERN BELIZE. BY SATURDAY 2ND THE ORIENATION OF THE TROUGH ROTATED AND WINDS BECAME NORTHEASTERLY. AT UPPER LEVELS A RIDGE TO THE EAST OF OUR AREA SUPPORTED A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THE RESULTING FLOW AT THE SURFACE AND LOW LEVELS SUPPORTED SOME MOISTURE AND SHOWERS OVER COASTAL WATERS AND ALONG CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. RELATIVELY MOIST CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGH THURSDAY 7TH.
DURING FRIDAY 8TH OVER-NIGHT SHOWERS CONTINUED TO AFFECT SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS AS A COLD FRONT MOVED OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO AND BAY OF CAMPECHE SOME EARLY MORNING FOG PATCHES AFFECTED RIVER VALLEYS AND LOW LYING AREAS AND CLEARED BY MID-MORNING. UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY INCREASED AS PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY IN THE FORM OF A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED INLAND AND NORTHERN AREAS. THE COLD FRONT CROSSED THE COUNTRY OVER-NIGHT THE 8TH INTO THE 9TH WITH SHOWERY AND WINDY CONDITIONS DEVELIOPING THEN MOSTLY LIGHT RAINFALL OCCURRED DURING SATURDAY 9TH.
MAINLY FAIR, WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING SUNDAY 10TH THROUGH FRIDAY 15TH AS A STRONG RIDGE FROM A CONTINENTAL HIGH OVER THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES DOMINATED OUR WEATHER AND MAINTAINED THE COLD FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL CUBA TO JUST EAST OF NICARAGUA. BY SATURDAY 16TH SOME MOISTURE RETURNED OVER OUR AREA AS A SURFACE TROUGH DEVELOPED EAST OF THE COUNTRY TO NORTHWESTERN HONDURAS AND LATER LIFTED TO NORTHERN BELIZE AND YUCATAN, WHILE AT LOW LEVELS A RETURNING EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW DEVELOPED. BY SUNDAY 17TH A GUSTY EASTERLY SURFACE FLOW DEVELOPED AS THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXTENDED TO THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN AND THE GULF OF MEXICO. MOSTLY LIGHT RAINFALL AFFECTED CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS DURING SATURDAY16TH THRU MONDAY 18TH. DURING TUESDAY 19TH THROUGH MONDAY 25TH MAINLY FAIR WEATHER PREVAILED AND SHOWERS WERE GENERALLY ISOLATED OVER MOST AREAS EXCEPT ALONG CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS AND THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE MAYA MOUNTAINS WHERE A BIT MORE SHOWER ACTIVITY OCCURRED.
EARLY MORNING FOG PATCHES AGAIN AFFECTED RIVER VALLEY AND LOW LYING AREAS AND THESE CLEARED BY MID-MORNING DURING WEDNESDAY 27TH. THROUGH THURSDAY 28TH A MEANDERING FRONTAL SHEAR-LINE WAS OVER COASTAL WATERS AND THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WAS CONFIINED TO A SHALLOW LAYER BELOW 850HPA/5,000FT AND A FEW LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS AFFECTED MOSTLY SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS WHILE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUED GENERALLY FAIR OVER MOST OTHER AREAS. A NORTHEASTWERLY SURFACE -LOW LEVEL FLOW DURING FREIDAY 29TH AND SATURDAY 30TH ADVECTED SOME MOISTURE AND A FEW SHOWERS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. A SHORT SPELL OF EARLY MORNING FOG DEVELOPED DURING THE MORNING OF SUNDAY 31ST WHILE SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS GENERALLY ISOLATED OVER MOST AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
JANUARY, 2018 STARTED OFF ON THE COOL SIDE, AS OVERNIGHT TO EARLY MORNING LAND BREEZE HAD BEEN PERSISTENT FOR SOME DAYS ALREADY. THESE COOLER LAND TEMPERATURES LIMITED CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY OVER THE MAINLAND, WHILE THE PREVAILING OFFSHORE WIND FLOW WAS A GENERALLY LIGHT NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY ONE. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE WARMER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND COOL AIRFLOW OVER THE SEA, SHOWERY ACTIVITY AFFECTED CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS DURING THE NIGHT AND MORNING, AND THEN THE MAINLAND IN THE AFTERNOON. A TOTAL OF THREE COLD FRONTS WERE NOTED TO HAVE CROSSED BELIZE DURING THIS MONTH.
BY NIGHT-TIME ON THE 1ST, WINDS BECAME GUSTY WITH THE APPROACH AND PASSING OF A COLD FRONT, SO THAT BY THE 2ND, AND CONTINUING ON THE 3RD, WINDS SHIFTED TO BLOW FROM THE NORTH-TO-NORTHWEST, BEHIND THE FRONT. A STRONG SURFACE HIGH BEHIND EXTENDED A RIDGE OVER THE AREA, SUPPORTING MODERATE AND OCCASIONALLY GUSTY WINDS.FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WHILE THE MID-TO-UPPER LEVELS REMAINED RATHER DRY OVER BELIZE, AND THE AIRFLOW CONTINUED TO SUPPORT COOL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS PREDOMINANTLY OVER THE SEA/OFFSHORE. ON THE 4TH, THE FLOW WAS NORTHERLY, VEERING LATER ON THE 5TH TO BECOME NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY ONCE MORE. MODERATE WIND SPEEDS CONTINUED OVER THE AREA. THIS CONTINUED THROUGH THE 7TH, AND THE MID-TO-UPPER LEVELS BECAME EVEN DRIER OVER BELIZE.
LATE ON THE 7TH THROUGH THE 8TH, WINDS VEERED FURTHER TO BECOME EAST-TO-NORTHEASTERLY, WITH DECREASING WIND SPEEDS. ON THE 8TH THROUGH THE EARLIER PART OF THE 9TH, THE INITIAL AIRFLOW SUPPORTED AN INFLOW OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE OVER BELIZE, FROM OVER THE SEA, AND NORTHERN BELIZE WAS RELATIVELY ACTIVE WITH A FEW SHOWERS OCCURRING OVER THIS PERIOD.
GENERALLY FAIR, COOL AND DRY WEATHER PREVAILED FROM LATER ON THE 9TH, WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING UP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THROUGH THE 11TH, AS A RIDGE OVER THE CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO PROVIDED A LIGHT EAST-TO-SOUTHEASTERLY AIRFLOW OVER THE COUNTRY.THEN, THE 12TH WAS WIDELY OBSERVED FOR THICK FOG COVERAGE MAINLY OVER NORTHERN PARTS (COROZAL, ORANGE WALK, BELIZE DISTRICTS) OF THE COUNTRY, THAT LASTED THROUGH LATE MORNING. WINDS HAD BACKED TO BECOME NORTH-TO-NORTHWESTERLY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT, LATER BECOMING GUSTY WITH PREFRONTAL AND FRONTAL ACTIVITY. PREFRONTAL SHOWERS OCCURRED MAINLY OVER NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.LATER, AS THE COLD FRONT CROSSED BELIZE OVERNIGHT, SHOWERS/RAIN AFFECTED MAINLY CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS. VARIABLY CLOUDY, WINDY AND COOL CONDITIONS, WITH LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL, PERSISTED BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT. FROM THE 15TH THROUGH TO THE 17TH, SIMILAR CONDITIONS PREVAILED, WITH ISOLATED SHOWERY ACTIVITY OVER COASTAL WATERS/SEA, INCREASING ON THE 18TH TO AFFECT MAINLY SOUTHERN AREAS, AS WINDS VEERED TO BECOME NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY, REMAINING GUSTY THROUGH THE 19TH. AS MOISTURE RETROGRESSED FROM THE EAST ON THE 20TH, A FEW SHOWERS OCCURRED OVER THE MAINLAND, AND ON THE 21ST THE SURFACE FLOW BECAME GAINED A MORE EASTERLY COMPONENT, BECOMING DOMINANTLY EASTERLY ON THE 22ND.
AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO, A SHEARLINE BEGAN TO PRODUCE PREFRONTAL ACTIVITY OVER BELIZE. FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED ESPECIALLY OVER THE SOUTH AND COAST DURING THE NIGHT/EARLY MORNING ON THE 23RD. WINDS BECAME EAST-TO-NORTHEASTERLY ONCE MORE, AND DAYTIME ACTIVITY SPREAD TO MAINLY CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY; THIS DIURNAL PATTERN REPEATED ITSELF, INCREASING ON THE 25TH, TO ALSO INCLUDE LENGTHY PERIODS OF RAIN. AS THE SURFACE AIRFLOW BECAME MORE EASTERLY AND GUSTY, RAINFALL ACTIVITY STARTED TO ALSO AFFECT NORTHERN AREAS ON THE 26TH AND 27TH. MOISTURE ON THESE DAYS WAS SUPPORTED BY SHEARLINE/TROUGH THAT HAD RETROGRESSED OVER THE AREA.
LATE ON THE 28TH, WINDS BACKED TO BECOME NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY WITH THE PASSAGE OF A SHEARLINE THAT WAS AHEAD OF ANOTHER APPROACHING COLD FRONT. OVERNIGHT/EARLY MORNING COASTAL SHOWERS/RAIN WERE INFLUENCED BY THIS SHEARLINE. WINDS BECAME GUSTY ON THE 29TH, LASTING THROUGH EARLY ON THE 31ST. THE FINAL COLD FRONT FOR THE MONTH CROSSED THE COUNTRY ON THE 30TH. AS A RESULT, SURFACE AIRFLOW BECAME NORTHERLY AND STRONGER, STILL WITH HIGHER GUSTS, ON THE 30TH. SHOWERS/RAIN OCCURRED MOSTLY OVER THE SEA/COAST AND OVER THE SOUTH DURING THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AS THE WINDS VEERED TO BECOME NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY WITH DECREASING SPEEDS ON THE 31ST.
TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL DATA ARE SHOWN IN THE GRAPHS ATTACHED.
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
FEBRUARY 2018 WAS WETTER THAN NORMAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH MOST STATIONS RECEIVING MORE THAN DOUBLE THEIR AVERAGE RAINFALL. THE INCREASED RAINFALL AMOUNTS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO MOISTURE SURGES PRODUCED BY THE TRADEWINDS. MOST OF THE MONTH WAS WINDY INCLUDING THE THIRTEENTH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 25-35KTS AND UP TO 45KTS AT THE PORT OF BELIZE IN BELIZE CITY. NO FRONTAL SYSTEMS TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY.
THE MONTH STARTED WITH A SURFACE TROUGH NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY WHICH PRODUCED CLOUDY SKIES ALONG WITH A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL AND OFFSHORE AREAS IN THE MORNING. SKIES REMAINED CLOUDY ON THE SECOND WITH PERIODS OF RAIN OVER CENTRAL AREAS AND THE NORTHERN SLOPES OF THE MAYA MOUNTAINS WHILE ON THE THIRD RAIN OCCURRED MOSTLY OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS THEN BECAME ISOLATED BY MID-MORNING. A LIGHT EASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED FROM THE FOURTH TO THE SIXTH WHICH SUPPORTED MAINLY FAIR WEATHER WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS ON THE FIFTH AND OVER THE SOUTH ON THE SIXTH.
THE SEVENTH SAW PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY CONDITIONS AS A FEW SHOWERS AFFECTED CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS. ON THE EIGHTH THE SHOWER ACTIVITY CONTINUED OVER SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS BECOMING CONFINED TO THE MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON THEN TO CENTRAL AND COASTAL AREAS DURING THE NIGHT. A SIMILAR PATTERN WAS OBSERVED ON THE NINTH. ON THE TENTH A MODERATE TO GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW PREVAILED AND A FEW SHOWERS OCCURRED OVER THE ORANGE WALK AND COROZAL DISTRICTS BUT BY NIGHTTIME CONDITIONS WERE MAINLY FAIR AND DRY.
ON THE ELEVENTH SKIES WERE PARTLY CLOUDY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GENERALLY FAIR WITH NO RAINFALL AND A GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST SURFACE FLOW PREVAILED OVER THE AREA. BY THE TWELFTH A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVER THE SEA AND MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE MORNING AND CONTINUED OVER THE MAINLAND IN THE AFTERNOON SPREADING TO THE COAST AND OVER THE STANN CREEK DISTRICT DURING THE NIGHT. ON THE THIRTEENTH A MOIST AND GUSTY EAST TO NORTHEAST AIRFLOW PREVAILED WHICH SUPPORTED SHOWERS OVER COASTAL AND INLAND AREAS MOST OF THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON THEN OVER THE SEA AND NORTHERN AREAS OVERNIGHT. ON THE FOURTEENTH A FEW EARLY MORNING SHOWERS CONTINUED TO AFFECT THE NORTH THEN A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPED AROUND THE COUNTRY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND AFFECTED ONLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE NIGHT. THIS ACTIVITY CONTINUED ON THE FIFTEENTH AS SHOWERS DEVELOPED AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT ESPECIALLY OVER THE BELIZE AND STANN CREEEK DISTRICTS AS A GUSTY EASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED.
BY THE SIXTEENTH CONDITIONS WERE GENERALLY FAIR WITH SHOWERS DEVELOPING ONLY ALONG THE STANN CREEK COAST AND OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS. THE SEVENTEENTH STARTED OUT MAINLY FAIR WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS BUT DURING THE NIGHT A LINE OF SHOWERS PASSED OVER THE COUNTRY AND AFFECTED MOSTLY NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS. ON THE EIGHTEENTH A GUSTY EASTERLY AIRFLOW PREVAILED AND SKIES WERE MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A FEW SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS WHICH SPREAD TO MOST DISTRICTS AFTER MIDNIGHT BUT BECAME ISOLATED BY SUNRISE. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE SIMILAR ON THE NINETEENTH WITH A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS IN THE MORNING AND ISOLATED SHOWERS DURING THE NIGHT. ON THE TWENTIETH MAINLY FAIR AND WINDY WEATHER PREVAILED WITH ONLY SHALLOW CUMULUS CLOUDS AND ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE EXTREME NORTH IN THE AFTERNOON .
THE GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW CONTINUED ON THE TWENTY-FIRST ALONG WITH A FEW SHOWERS OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE COUNTRY IN THE MORNING THEN MOSTLY OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. ON THE TWENTY-SECOND SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVER NORTHERN AMBERGRIS CAYE DURING THE MORNING THEN A FEW SHOWERS MOVED ACROSS CENTRAL AREAS AROUND MIDDAY AND OVER SOUTHERN AND COASTAL WATERS AT NIGHTTIME. SHOWER ACTIVITY PERSISTED AROUND THE COUNTRY MOST OF THE TWENTY-THIRD THEN THE ACTIVITY BECAME ISOLATED OVERNIGHT. MAINLY FAIR AND DRY WEATHER PREVAILED FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH TO THE TWENTY-FIFTH AS THE AIRFLOW REMAINED GUSTY AND FROM THE EAST-SOUTHEAST.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH STARTED WARM AND DRY WITH NO RAINFALL THEN A FEW SHOWERS AFFECTED THE BELIZE, STANN CREEK AND TOLEDO DISTRICTS DURING THE NIGHT. BY THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MAINLY FAIR CONDITIONS RETURNED DURING THE DAY WITH LIGHT EASTERLY WINDS AND ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS BUT OVERNIGHT A FEW SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVER CENTRAL AREAS INCLUDING THE AIRPORT. THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH A MODERATE EAST TO SOUTHEAST AIRFLOW PREVAILED AND PRODUCED FAIR, WARM AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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Monthly Weather Summary, MARCH 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
THE MONTH OF MARCH STARTED OFF WARM ANDMOSTLY DRY WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS ASRIDGINGWAS THE DOMINANT FACTOR AFFECTING OUR WEATHER. MOISTURE LEVELS AND INSTABILITY INCREASED SLIGHTLY AROUND THE THIRD OF MARCH BECAUSE OF PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY FROM A COLD FRONT OVER THE YUCATAN. A LIGHT MOIST EAST TO NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW PREVAILED OVER THE AREA SUPPORTING A FEW SHOWERS OVER MOST AREAS. THEREAFTER, THE MOISTURE LEVEL GRADUALLY DECREASED PRODUCING FAIR AND DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH AN AVERAGE TOTAL PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUE OF 20-30MM IN A NEUTRAL ENVIRONMENT. SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSISTED INTO THE SECOND WEEK WITH LITTLE TO NO RAINFALL ACTIVITY UNTIL THE NINTH AND TENTH WHERE ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED OVER THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A SOUTH-WESTERLY WIND COMPONENT LED TO A MARGINALLY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT OVER THE AREA, HOWEVER, RIDGING WAS STILL THE MAJOR FACTOR INFLUENCING THE WEATHER. BY THE TWELFTH, AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHED THE AREA, AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE WAS OBSERVED AT BOTH THE LOW AND UPPER LEVELS AND SUPPORTED THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN BELIZE. THIS INCREASE IN MOISTURE CONTINUED INTO THE THIRTEENTH WITH CLOUDY SKIES, A NORTH TO NORTH-WESTERLY SURFACE FLOW AND RAINFALL ACTIVITY AROUND THE COUNTRY AS THE COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED EAST OF CUBA, CENTRAL BELIZE AND NORTH OF GUATEMALA. THE SOUNDING RECORDED A PWAT OF 63.4MM, KI 35.1, LIFT -0.26 INDICATING AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT AND THUNDERSHOWERS RESULTED IN MAXIMUM OBSERVED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 43.4MM AT LIBERTAD, 37.2MM AT RANCHITO, 51.4MM AT MIDDLESEX AND 34.8MM IN BELMOPAN. THEN RAINFALL ACTIVITY SUBDUED ON THE FOURTEENTH WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE SOUTH.
A FURTHER DECREASE IN MOISTURE OCCURRED IN THE THIRD WEEK WITH RIDGING INFLUENCING THE WEATHER LEADING TO FAIR AND MOSTLY DRY WEATHER WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS. THE AVERAGE PWAT FOR THIS WEEK WAS 30-35MM, HOWEVER, MOST OF THE MOISTURE WAS AT THE UPPER LEVELS SUPPORTING ONLY SHALLOW CUMULUS CLOUDS AND DENSE CIRRUS. THE FLOW AT THE UPPER LEVELS FOR THE PERIOD WAS WEST TO SOUTH-WESTERLY IN A NEUTRAL TO WEAKLY CONVERGENT ENVIRONMENT AS A HIGH-PRESSURE RIDGE WAS NEAR BAHAMAS. THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN BECAME DIVERGENT AROUND THE NINETEENTH WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT OVER THE YUCATAN AND AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED OVER THE SOUTHWEST MAYA MOUNTAINS DUE TO DAYTIME HEATING. THE SURFACE FLOW BACKED TO A MORE EAST TO NORTH-EASTERLY COMPONENT AND MOISTURE WAS CONFINED TO THE UPPER LEVELS. THE COLD FRONT EXTENDED OVER SOUTHERN YUCATAN TO NORTHERN BELIZE AND AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE, CLOUDINESS AND A FEW SHOWERS PREVAILED OVER CENTRAL BELIZE. MOST OF THE MOISTURE SUPPORTING THE SHOWERS WAS CAPPED BELOW 850HPA WITH THE MID-UPPER LEVELS BEING DRY. THE SHOWERY ACTIVITY WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE COUNTRY. ON THE TWENTY-SECOND, SHOWERS BECAME ISOLATED WITH A FEW MORE OVER SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS LATER IN THE NIGHT, WINDS SPEEDS PICKED UP AROUND THIS TIME TO A MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY GUSTY NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW OVER THE AREA. AS THE FRONT PROGRESSED FURTHER EASTWARD, CONDITIONS IMPROVED, EXCEPT FOR OVER SOUTHERN BELIZE,WITH SKIES BECOMING SUNNY WITH ONLY A FEW CLOUDY SPELLS AND A GRADUAL DECREASE IN MOISTURE. THIS GENERAL PATTERN WITH AN EAST TO SOUTH-EASTERLY SURFACE FLOW CONTINUED FOR A FEW DAYS WITH FAIR CONDITIONS OVER MOST AREAS AND ONLY P.M. ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN AREAS. TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH, MOISTURE LEVELS REMAINED RELATIVELY LOW, EXCEPT FOR SLIGHT INCREASE IN UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE. A FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS PERSISTED IN THE AFTERNOONS OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS DUE TO HEATING AND TOPOGRAPHIC LIFT. THE MONTH ENDED WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND A LIGHT NORTH-EASTERLY FLOW OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL INLAND AREAS WITH HIGHER PWAT VALUES WERE OBSERVED AND AN INCREASE IN LOW AND MID-LEVEL CLOUDS DEVELOPED WITH THE ACCOMPANYING MOISTURE AND ELSEWHERE, FAIR CONDITIONS PREVAILED.
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
APRIL IN BELIZE IS THE DRIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF APRIL 2018, WERE WARM, BUT NOT COMPLETELY DRY. ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED OVER THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. THE THIRD DAY WAS DRY. NO RAINFALL FELL! DURING THE FOLLOWING THREE DAYS ISOLATED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED AND MOSTLY OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS. FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE NINTH, NO RAINFALL ACTIVITY WAS OBSERVED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
FROM THE TENTH TO THE FOURTEENTH, AN INCREASE IN PRECIPITABLE WATER AND HIGH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES SUPPORTED ISOLATED TO A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE MAYA MOUNTAINS AND OVER THE TOLEDO DISTRICT. ON THE FIFTEENTH MORNING, PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY SUPPORTED SEVERAL OUTBREAKS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTED NORTHERN DISTRICTS AND CAYES. THE COLD FRONT CROSSED THE COUNTRY DURING THE FIFTEENTH NIGHT, BECOMING WELL ESTABLISHED SOUTHEAST OF BELIZE ON THE SIXTEENTH. ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED THAT DAY.
THE SEVENTEENTH DAY WAS DRY WITH NO RAINFALL ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, ALL REMAINING DAYS TO THE END OF THE MONTH WAS A RAIN DAY. SOME DAYS WERE AFFECTED BY HEAVIER AND MORE INTENSE RAINFALL THAN OTHERS. THE TWENTY-SEVENTH AND TWENTY-EIGHT FOR EXAMPLE WERE AFFECTED BY PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITIES WITH SEVERAL OUTBREAKS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, SEVERE AT TIMES. OVER AN INCH OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT SOME STATIONS IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY, ALONG WITH HAILSTONE ACTIVITY. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT DID NOT CROSS THE COUNTRY. HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER AND HIGH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES SUPPORTED ISOLATED TO A FEW SHOWERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ON THE OTHER DAYS.
IN CONCLUSION, APRIL 2018 WAS NOT TOTALLY DRY. THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT DAYS WITH NO RAINFALL ACTIVITY. MEASURING RAINFALL READINGS ALONGSIDE THE CLIMATOLOGICAL NORM SUGGESTS THAT RAINFALL WAS ABOVE AVERAGE IN BELIZE FOR APRIL 2018. HOWEVER, TEMPERATURES, MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM WERE WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. IN ADDITION, ONE COLD FRONT CROSSED THE COUNTRY THIS MONTH AND WAS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL.
Monthly Rainfall Summary, April 2018
| Station | Total Monthly Rainfall (mm) | Normal Monthly Rainfall (mm) |
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| Philip Goldson Airport | 26.6 | 57.2 | | Belmopan | 53.1 | 38.5 | | Central Farm | 48.9 | 50.1 | | Pomona | 105.4 | 66.2 | | Spanish Lookout | 74.1 | 37.5 | | Melinda | 76 | 51 | | Savannah Forest Stn | 44.8 | 60.3 | | Punta Gorda Agri. Stn | 165.3 | 82.6 | | Philip Goldson Airport | 26.6 | 57.2 | | Belmopan | 53.1 | 38.5 |
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
Climatologically speaking, August is known for its two weeks dry spell known locally as the "maga season". As a result, a marked drop in rainfall can be seen around August when looking at the annual rainfall distribution for the country. Weather systems that typically affect Belize during the month of August are Tropical Waves (TWs), Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and an occasional Tropical Cyclone (TCs) (tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane).
August 2018 was unusually wet over central coastal areas (Belize District) and southern areas (southern Toledo district). The north and northwestern portions ( Corozal, northwest Orange Walk and Northwest Cayo) were dryer than normal while the remainder of the country saw rainfall totals within their normal range.
Although a couple tropical waves crossed the country during the first five days (2nd and 4th) of August 2018, rainfall was typically less than 1 inch per day for most areas. One exception was southern Belize where some showers and thunderstorms on the night of the 1st through early morning on the 2nd produced up to 87 mm of rainfall in Punta Gorda. However, in general upper level conditions supported a generally convergent and subsident pattern at the mid to upper levels during this period. This was produced by ridging to the west of the area and the axis of a TUTT east of the country. Overall showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated. Activity was diurnal with slightly more affecting the south during the nighttime and inland areas during the afternoon hours.
Upper level conditions changed gradually during the period from the 6th to the 8th of August as the axis of the TUTT slowly shifted north and west of the area. The south was first to experience divergent conditions aloft. This resulted in showers and thunderstorms on the 6th which produced up to 57.0 mm of rainfall in Punta Gorda. The activity shifted northward during the next couple of days with the airport receiving 40.4 mm on the 7th and 51.6 mm on the 8th. The activity on the 8th was due to the passage of a tropical wave under the aforementioned favourable upper dynamics resulting in deep-layered moisture and instability over the area. Moisture decreased gradually on the 9th.
Conditions were generally fair across the country between the 10th and 12th of August. However, nighttime showers and thunderstorms continued affecting the south producing approximately 1 inch of rainfall per day during this period.
Conditions became more moist and unstable on the 13th with a few showers and thunderstorms across the country. Highest amounts were once again recorded in Punta Gorda with 80 mm of rainfall. This activity decreased on the 14th and generally fair weather was experienced on the 15th. A weak tropical wave crossed that day but did not produce any significant rainfall across the country.
The upper levels became gradually more divergent during the next few days from the 16th to the 18th resulting in some showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain over most areas by the 18th. Activity was once again highest over the south where Punta Gorda recorded 67.8 mm and 47.0 mm of rainfall on the 17th and 18th, respectively.
Relatively moist conditions persisted for the following few days from the 19th to the 24th. Tropical waves crossed the country on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of the month. However, activity over the country was generally diurnal with showers occurring mainly over southern and coastal areas during the late night to early morning hours and inland areas during the afternoon hours with peak daytime heating.
A stronger tropical wave crossed the country on the 25th under very favourable upper level conditions supporting a further increase in moisture over the country. This resulted in torrential rainfall over the south on the night of the 25th which caused flooding and road closures. Records from Punta Gorda show a total of 174.6 mm of rainfall on the 24th and an additional 87.6 mm on the 25th. This activity then moved up to central areas of the country (Belize City/ Ladyville area) on Sunday 26th August where a total of 160.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at the airport. It is worth noting that this single amount of rainfall, which fell within a few hours, is just over an inch short of the typical August average for the airport which is 193.7 mm.
A couple tropical waves crossed the country during the period from August 27th to 29th causing relatively moist conditions to persist over the area and producing a few showers and thunderstorms across the country but mostly over the south. Conditions, then, became generally fair during the last two days of the month.
Based on analyses from the National Hurricane Center a total of 10 tropical waves crossed the country during the month of August 2018. The strongest of these was the wave that crossed on the 25th with a moisture plume trailing behind causing intense activity through to the 26th (see the discussion above).
The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of August 2018. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, August 2018 was unusually wet over central coastal areas (Belize District) and southern areas (southern Toledo district). The north and northwestern portions ( Corozal, northwest Orange Walk and Northwest Cayo) were dryer than normal while the remainder of the country saw rainfall totals within their normal range. In terms of maximum temperatures, most of the stations sampled here saw slightly below normal maximum temperature in August 2018. The only exception was Pomona. Meanwhile nighttime temperatures were slightly warmer than normal for most stations except for Pomona and Punta Gorda.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
September is typically a wet month for the country of Belize. It also coincides with the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season and a significant amount of the historical tropical cyclones that have affected the country occurred during the month of September. Apart from tropical cyclones, other systems that typically affect Belize during the month of September include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Troposheric Troughs (TUTTs) and at times cold fronts and frontal shear lines affect the country as early as September.
September 2018 was drier than normal for most of the country, except the extreme west-central areas and the south. The month started off generally fair with showers and isolated thunderstorms confined to the Maya Mountains. Moisture increased slightly on the 2nd with the approach of a tropical wave. The wave crossed early on the 3rd and moisture in its wake supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms. Conditions continued relatively moist during the night of the 3rd through early morning on the 4th with moisture decreasing thereafter.
Conditions were relatively dry from the 5th to the 7th. A slack pressure pattern over the area supported light easterly winds and subsequently warm conditions, especially in the interior. The result was mainly fair weather with isolated showers and thunderstorms inland during the afternoon due to daytime heating. Weak tropical waves crossed the country overnight between the 5th and 6th and again on the 7th but they did not have significant upper level support to produce organized convection over the area.
Moisture started to increase over the area on the 8th and this was associated mostly with a TUTT. By the 9th this system was supporting an induced trof across the northwest Caribbean Sea. This supported a relatively moist easterly flow over the area and resulted in a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over northern and central areas. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) analyzed this system as a tropical wave which they had passing the country at around 18Z (12 midday) on the 9th. However, by the 10th they had the induced trof over the northwest Caribbean just north of northeastern Honduras. Moisture increased further on the 10th when an imbedded 1009mb low pressure system was analyzed along the axis of the trof. Showers and thunderstorms continued affecting mainly northern and inland areas. By the 11th the axis of the trof moved north to northern Yucatan but a very moist pattern continued in its wake. Subsequently showers and thunderstorms persisted over the country through to the 12th.
A relatively dry pattern became established across the country from the 13th through to the 18th of September 2018. This period was characterized by a slack pressure pattern and light winds over the area. Meanwhile at the upper levels a neutral to weakly convergent pattern prevailed inhibiting organized deep convective activity over the area. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated with occasionally a few more affecting southern areas.
Moisture increased on the 19th with the approach of a surface trof linked to the remnants of tropical storm Isaac over the area. This feature crossed the country slowly that day supporting an increase in cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms. Moisture continued relatively high the following day with showers and thunderstorms persisting especially over southern and inland areas.
A further increase in moisture was noted on the 21st and 22nd. This was associated with the slow approach of a tropical wave combined with increasing divergence at the upper levels. This resulted in a steady increase in showers and thunderstorms across the country. The tropical wave crossed overnight between the 22nd and 23rd and upper divergence peaked over the area between the 23rd and 24th. The upper system was a TUTT with axis west of the area supporting the divergent southwesterly flow aloft. As a result wet conditions persisted over the country.
Weather conditions continued relatively moist during the final week of September 2018 even though no tropical wave crossed until the 29th. A relatively moist easterly to east-northeasterly flow dominated. Additionally, the upper levels were generally divergent during this period and this provided the support for some convective activity over the area. This resulted a in a few showers and thunderstorms across the country for the remainder of the month.
In summary, although the month of September 2018 saw many wet days, these wet days were not intense enough to produce normal or above normal rainfall for most of the country. On the contrary, most areas of the country experienced below normal rainfall except over west-central and southern areas where rainfall was normal to slightly above normal. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of September 2018. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of the country, except for southwestern Cayo district and the Toledo district. In terms of maximum temperatures, four of the stations sampled here saw above normal maximum temperature in September 2018 while one was normal and the other four were slightly below normal. Meanwhile minimum/nighttime temperatures were more or less normal for most of the stations except Punta Gorda where the minimum was significantly lower than usual.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: September 2018 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: September 2018 (% Above/Below Average)
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
October is typically the wettest month for the country of Belize. Systems that usually affect the country during this month include tropical waves and Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs). On occasions a tropical cyclone may affect the country during October. Cold fronts often affect the country during this month as well.
Moisture gradually increased across the country during the first week of October 2018. An increasingly moist northeasterly airflow at the low levels coupled with weakly divergent conditions aloft supported shower and thunderstorm development. This was associated with a broad trough of low pressure (remnants of Tropical Storm Kirk) that slowly approached the country. This system would eventually be near northeastern Honduras by the 5th of October. By the following day (October 6th) it was designated as potential tropical cyclone fourteen and it was centered just east of northern Belize. This resulted in cloudy skies with some showers and thunderstorms across the country.
The system became Tropical Storm Michael on the 7th and it was heading generally North-Northwestward away from Belize. With the system intensifying over the following few days it basically absorbed most of the moisture in the region resulting in a general drying trend across the country. Moreover, it supported a South-Southwesterly flow which was devoid of the deep-layered moisture that is typically associated with such flows. This may have been a result of adiabatic compression on the lee side of the mountains along the continental divide in Central America coupled with generally convergent/subsident conditions associated with the outflow from Michael. As a result conditions became very warm and mostly dry 8th and 9th with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms inland. Thunderstorm activity was much stronger and widespread on the afternoon of the 10th prompting the issuance of a severe thunderstorms alert.
Relatively moist conditions persisted over the area for the following few days. The country continued under a generally slack pressure pattern which supported only light winds. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms affected mainly the Maya Mountains on the 11th and decreased even further on the 12th and 13th. A light and relatively moist east to northeasterly airflow on the 14th supported a few showers mostly over the Maya Mountains and over the sea.
Moisture increased on the 15th with a low pressure area over northeast Honduras moving generally westward toward Belize. The National Hurricane Center contemplated declaring this system a potential tropical cyclone but eventually decided against it due to its trajectory that was expected to take it mostly over land or very near the coast of northern Honduras. This system crossed southern Belize the following day (16th October) and supported some showers and periods of rain across the country. Relatively moist conditions lingered behind this system producing a few showers and isolated thunderstorms across the country from the 17th through to the 19th.
A drier air mass moved over the area on the 20th of October. This relatively dry trend persisted through to the 25th of October. As a result weather conditions were generally fair across the country with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. There were occasional exceptions over the south where slightly higher amounts were noted.
A cold front became stationary north of the country over Yucatan on the 26th and caused a slight increase in moisture over the area through to the 27th. This increase in moisture did not produce any significant widespread increase in rainfall but instead shower activity remained generally isolated.
A relatively moist northeasterly flow developed behind the dissipating stationary front on the 28th and produced a few showers over northern and inland areas of the country. Similar activity continued on the 29th. Showers and rain then spread to central and southern overnight between the 29th and 30th. Finally, the moisture would increase further on the last day of the month supporting some showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain mostly over northern and central areas of the country.
The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of October 2018. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was generally normal for most of the country, except for the north and southeast coast (Savannah) where it was slightly below normal and parts of the central areas (northwestern Cayo and North Stann Creek) where rainfall was above normal. In terms of maximum temperatures, most of the stations sampled here show above normal maximum/daytime temperature, except for the Belize Zoo. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were also higher than normal for most areas except for Punta Gorda which recorded lower than normal minimum temperatures.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: October 2018 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: October 2018 (% Above/Below Average)
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
November is the last month of the Atlantic basin hurricane season. For Belize it is a month in which the climate of the country transitions gradually from the rainy season to the cooler transition period between December and January. Therefore, it is a month in which the country is affected from both tropical systems such as tropical waves and possible tropical cyclones as well as frontal systems.
November 2018 started off generally fair. A cold front over the Gulf of Mexico and ridging northeast of the area supported a dry easterly to southeasterly airflow on the first day. This became a bit more easterly on day two as northern and inland portions of the country experienced a few showers and isolated thunderstorms due to the proximity of the front over northern Yucatan. Moisture increased further on the 3rd and 4th as the stationary front lingered just north of the area supporting a few showers and isolated thunderstorms across the country.
Conditions became generally fair once more on the 5th and 6th of the month as the remnants of the front drifted north and a drier easterly to east-southeasterly airflow dominated. Meanwhile a weak tropical wave was gradually approaching. On the morning of November 7th the axis of the tropical wave was located near 82W. The wave crossed late on the 7th into early morning on the 8th supporting a few overnight showers that lasted into the morning of the 8th.
The following few days from the 9th through to the 12th of November 2018 was characterized by generally fair weather with isolated showers. The upper levels in particular were very dry and hostile to any significant convective development during this period. A weak tropical wave crossed on the morning of November 11th but did not produce any significant increase in rainfall totals and only a modest increase in the coverage of isolated showers across the country.
The approach and passage of a cold front eventually ended the relatively dry spell described above. On the 13th, the front was located over the Bay of Campeche. Moisture convergence ahead of this system produced a few showers over inland and southern areas on that day with isolated thunderstorms during the night. Moisture increased further on the 14th as the front extended across northern Yucatan. A few showers and periods of rain affected mainly northern and inland areas on that day spreading to coastal areas during the night as the cold front crossed the country. The 15th was cloudy and cool in the wake of the cold front with light rain mainly offshore and over central parts of the country. The following day continued cloudy and cool but with little to no rainfall.
The remnants of the front in the form of a surface trof slowly began to drift back towards the country during the following few days. This supported rainfall activity mainly over the south and offshore areas at first. As a result the 17th was cloudy and cool with light rain mainly over the sea and along southern coastal areas. By the 18th, showers and periods of rain extended to central and southern areas with thunderstorms offshore.
Showery activity persisted and intensified somewhat during the following few days from the 19th peaking around the 21st and 22nd. It is worth noting that over 4 inches of rainfall was recorded at the Airport on the 21st which resulted in localized flooding in the area.
Rainfall activity gradually decreased on the 23rd and 24th with the weather becoming mostly fair on the 24th. Fair conditions persisted for the following two days (25th and 26th) as a dry southeasterly airflow prevailed over the area.
A cold front just north of northern Belize and a trof just east of the country changed weather conditions over the country on the 27th. These features supported an increase in moisture which resulted in a few overnight showers over the Toledo district and a few showers, thunderstorms and rain over the mainland and southern areas during the day. The front became stationary over central Belize on the 28th supporting cloudy and cool conditions with showers and light rain mainly over the sea and coast during the morning and then over central and northern areas in the afternoon. The frontal system retrogressed northward while slowly dissipating on the 29th producing showers and light rain over the Orange Walk and Corozal districts. By the 30th, the country saw a return to generally fair weather with only a few showers lingering over the north during the morning.
The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of November 2018. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was generally normal for most of the southern two-thirds of the country. However, there are a couple exceptions. One is the west (Spanish Lookout and Central Farm area) where rainfall totals were around 25-55% above normal for the month and the other is the Stann Creek Valley (Pomona) area where totals were slightly below normal. No manual observations were available from the north at the time of this report. Preliminary (un-validated) data from automatic weather stations suggests that rainfall totals were significantly below normal in that area. In terms of maximum temperatures, most of the stations sampled here show above normal maximum/daytime temperature, except Central Farm where the average maximum temperature for the month was near normal and Savannah where the data suggests slightly cooler daytime temperature than normal. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were also slightly higher than normal for most areas except for Punta Gorda and Pomona.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: November 2018 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: November 2018 (% Above/Below Average)
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2018
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
December marks the first month of the cool transition period between the rainy season and the dry season for Belize. This transition period typically lasts for about two to three months before the dry season sets in between mid February and early March. December is typically cool over the country with the main rainfall producers being cold fronts, prefrontal troughs and shear lines.
December 2018 started off dry and unseasonably warm. A moderate but slightly gusty easterly to southeasterly airflow prevailed for the first few days and supported these conditions. A cold front dipped as far south as northern Yucatan on the 5th and then moved into the extreme northwest Caribbean to just north of Belize on the 6th. The high pressure ridge behind this front moved off the the east and induced a relatively moist easterly to northeasterly flow on the 6th which supported a few showers mostly over northern, central and inland areas of the country. A few showers persisted over central and northern areas on the 7th, becoming isolated on the 8th and 9th, except for a few more over the south and over the Maya Mountains on the 9th.
The first cold front for the month crossed the country on the 10th. The prefrontal trough on the night of the 9th and early morning of the 10th supported a few showers mainly over northern and central areas of the country. The passage of the front later in the day of the 10th supported a few showers, isolated thunderstorms and light rain mostly over the sea. Fair, cool and mostly dry conditions prevailed over the country on the 11th and the day of 12th in the wake of the cold front. Light rain affected the Belize City and offshore areas on the night of the 12th through early morning of the 13th but conditions became fair once more by daybreak on the 13th and continued that way for the remainder of the day.
The second cold front for the month crossed on the night of the 14th. The passage of this front produced only a few light showers. The most significant weather with this system was strong and gusty winds with gusts of up to 30 knots recorded at the Municipal Airport in Belize City. The front had swept through by the morning of the 15th with fair and cool conditions dominating that day. No significant rainfall was reported.
Generally fair, cool and dry conditions persisted the following few days from the 16th through to the 19th except over the sea where a few showers developed on the 18th. This activity affected the San Pedro area with the automatic weather station recording 22.2 mm of rainfall on the 18th. Isolated showers affected the country on the afternoon of the 20th with the approach of yet another cold front. This cold front (the third for the month) crossed on the night of the 20th/early morning on the 21st. As the 3rd front for the month swept past, it ushered in another period of cool and mostly dry conditions in its wake that lasted until the 23rd. No significant rainfall was noted during this period.
Moisture started to increase over the country on the 23rd as the front began to retrogress towards the country. The activity started over the south where very light and brief showers were noted on the 23rd. Notably the automatic weather station in Placencia reported rainfall total of 61.0 mm on the 23rd while the station at Punta Gorda reported 22.8 mm on that day. By the 24th (Christmas Eve) some showers, periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms affected most of the country, but especially northern, central areas and the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. Heaviest activity occurred over Belize City with the station at the Municipal Airport reporting 95.6 mm of rainfall and that at Port of Belize reporting 82.9 mm. Activity decreased a bit on Christmas day. However, a few showers still lingered on and persisted through to the 26th.
Finally, the month of December ended off the way it started. A tight pressure gradient became established between the Atlantic High Pressure system (Bermuda High) northeast of the area and low pressures over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. This supported a gusty and mostly dry easterly to southeasterly airflow straight through to the end of the month. Except for occasional light and brief isolated showers, little to no rainfall was noted during this period.
The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of December 2018. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for the southern two-thirds of the country while it was near normal from Belize City northward. In terms of maximum temperatures, most of the stations sampled here show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, except for Savannah where the average maximum temperature for the month was slightly below normal and the Airport where the average maximum for the month was just about normal. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were also slightly higher than normal for most areas except for Punta Gorda and Pomona where nighttime temperatures were slightly cooler than normal and Central Farm where they were near normal.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: December 2018 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: December 2018 (% Above/Below Average)
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2019
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
January falls within the cool transition period between the rainy season and the dry season for Belize. This transition period typically lasts for about two to three months from December to about mid February or early March when the dry season sets in. January is typically cool over the country and can be somewhat wet at times. The main rainfall producers during this month are cold fronts, prefrontal troughs and shear lines.
The first day of January 2019 started off a bit moist as a few showers affected the country with highest concentration over the south. This was supported by a slightly moist easterly airflow. Conditions improved later in the day and only isolated showers prevailed for the next few days from the 2nd to the 5th.
Moisture increased across the country on the 6th in association with a weak frontal boundary that dipped south and became quasi-stationary near Belize's northern border. Highest rainfall was concentrated over northern offshore areas with the automatic weather station in San Pedro recording 35.2 mm on the 6th. This system lingered over the area for the next few days supporting a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over most areas on the 7th. Showers increased on the 8th with most stations recording some rainfall, except for those in the extreme south. Similar conditions persisted on the 9th. However, by the 10th the frontal boundary began to drift south as a high pressure system was building southward from the north. This caused the focus of rainfall to shift offshore with showers becoming generally isolated over the mainland.
By the 11th, the weak frontal boundary had moved south of the area and a high pressure ridge dominated. This supported mild and mostly fair weather for the next three days from the 11th to the 13th.
Moisture started to increase once more over the area on the 14th with the approach of another cold front. This supported the development of a few showers over the country with highest concentrations in the north. The weak frontal boundary slowed down over our area supporting moist conditions on the 15th with some showers and rain mostly over central and northern areas of the country. Highest rainfall total was recorded at the airport with over two inches of rainfall. Rainfall decreased on the 16th as the frontal boundary drifted south of the country.
Fair and generally mild conditions prevailed on the 17th with no significant rainfall across the country. The following day continued generally fair with only isolated showers and then moisture increased slightly on the 19th and supported a few morning showers mostly over the sea and south.
A relatively strong cold front raced across the Gulf of Mexico between the 19th and 20th and crossed Belize between 6 am and midday on the 20th. This supported cloudy and cool conditions on the 20th. However, moisture was limited with this system and showers were isolated at most. The 21st was variably cloudy, cool and mostly dry with little to no rainfall recorded across the country.
Remnant moisture from the retrogressing frontal boundary drifted across the country during the following few days from the 22nd to the 25th supporting mostly light showers and periods of rain over some areas. Rainfall accumulations were generally low with less than 5 mm per day. The 26 and the 27th were generally fair with isolated showers. However, the fourth cold front for the month was rapidly approaching on Sunday the 27th. This was a relatively strong and fast moving front. When it crossed the country late on Sunday the 27th, it supported strong winds with gust up to 37 knots. However, because of its fast pace, rainfall was minimal.
A high pressure ridge dominated during the following few days from the 28th through to 30th in the wake of the cold front and supported mild and generally fair weather over the country with no significant rainfall. The final day of January 2019 saw a slight increase in moisture over southern areas of the country where a few light showers were noted. Generally fair weather continued elsewhere.
The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of January 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of country except in the extreme north where it was near normal. Some areas over central and southern Belize saw rainfall as low as 80% below normal. In terms of maximum temperatures, about half of the stations sampled here show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures with Melinda showing the warmest daytime temperatures for th month. The other stations saw near normal or slightly below normal maximum/daytime temperatures in January 2019. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were slightly lower than normal for most of the stations in this sample with Punta Gorda showing coolest nighttime conditions during January 2019.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (% Above/Below Average)
National Meteorological Service of Belize
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2019
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
February typically marks the beginning of the dry season for the country. Temperatures normally start increasing as the month is characterized by a warm easterly to southeasterly surface airflow. Whatever limited rainfall that occurs during the month is typically associated with one or two cold fronts, prefrontal trofs, shear lines and low level easterly wind surges.
February 2019 started off mainly fair and characteristically dry across the country. Except for light isolated showers over the south during the first week of the month, very little rainfall occurred across the remainder of the country. Highest one day rainfall total based on automatic weather stations data was over Punta Gorda on the 3rd when 16.6 mm of rainfall was recorded. The low levels were dominated by a dry easterly to southeasterly flow during the period while a dry subsident pattern prevailed at the upper levels.
Moisture increased slightly over the area on the 8th as winds shifted to the east-northeast. This supported a few showers over southern, central and inland areas of the country. This activity increased further on the 9th with some showers noted across much of the country. Rainfall remained relatively high overnight on the 9th through early morning on the 10th and decreased later in the day as a drier easterly to southeasterly airflow became established over the area.
A diurnal pattern of increasing moisture during the late night to early morning hours on the 11th and 12th supported a few showers and then the only cold front for February 2019 crossed on the 13th. This weak cold front supported a few showers over the northern districts of the country that day.
Moisture decreased on the 14th and continued very low through to the 20th of the month. This period was characterized by warm, hazy and dry conditions across the country. Although, moisture increased slightly in the boundary layer after the 20th, this increase was only enough to clear the haze and no significant rainfall was noted across the country. The month ended mostly dry.
The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of February 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal over the Stann Creek, Belize and most of the Cayo District while over the Toledo district rainfall was near normal. The northern parts of the country (Corozal and northern Orange Walk district) saw above normal rainfall during February 2019. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual while nighttime (minimum) temperatures were normal to slightly above normal during February 2019.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: February 2019 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: February 2019 (% Above/Below Average)
National Meteorological Service of Belize
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2019
National Meteorological Service of Belize
Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day.
March is usually a warm, dry and windy month across the country of Belize. A gusty easterly to southeasterly wind normally prevails throughout much of the month supporting warm and fair conditions. Whatever limited rainfall that occurs during the month is typically associated with one or two cold fronts, prefrontal trofs, shear lines and low level easterly wind surges.
March 2019 was characteristically warm and generally dry. However, it was not as windy as normal and the prevailing surface flow was more easterly than east-southeasterly. The month started off generally fair with very limited rainfall amounts being recorded during the first five days. This was supported by mostly convergent, subsident and dry conditions at the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere.
Conditions changed slightly on the 6th due to the approach and slow passage of a weak frontal boundary. This system produced some rainfall on the 6th and again on the 7th. By late evening on the 8th the remnants/tail-end of the front had dissipated over the Gulf of Honduras and generally fair conditions returned.
The country saw generally fair weather for the next ten days from the 10th to the 19th. The surface flow alternated between east-southeasterly and east-northeasterly but overall the pattern was dry throughout the atmosphere. Isolated showers occurred sporadically during this period but daily accumulations were below 2 mm at most stations with only a few exceptions.
The approach of another cold front on the 20th supported a slight increase in moisture. Rainfall peaked at Spanish Lookout on that day with a total of 41.1 mm. Punta Gorda was a close second with 37.3 mm of rainfall. Shower activity was slightly more widespread the following day on the 21st. By this time the diffused frontal boundary was over the country and supported shower activity especially over southern coastal areas. Automatic weather station data from Placencia showed a total of 96.6 mm being recorded between 12 am on the 21st and 11:55 pm that day. A few showers continued mainly along the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains on the 22nd.
The remainder of the month saw a return to mainly fair and dry conditions except on the 27th and 28th when a few showers affected southern portions of the country. This activity was supported by a slightly moist northeasterly airflow.
In summary one weak cold front crossed the country slowly between the 7-8th March 2019 while another diffused frontal boundary stalled over the area around the 20th - 21st March 2019. Rainfall activity between the 27-28th was indirectly related to a front that passes just north of the area and the ridge behind it supported a relatively moist northeasterly airflow.
The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of March 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal over the Corozal District and most of the Orange Walk and Belize Districts as well. In Cayo, Belmopan saw below normal rainfall while Central Farm was near normal but Spanish Lookout was above normal. In the Stann creek District, Savannah, which falls near the border between the Stann Creek and Toledo District was below normal but Melinda near the coast was above normal. Meanwhile rainfall over Punta Gorda was above normal for March 2019. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual for most of the stations sampled except in Punta Gorda and Savannah where daytime temperatures were a bit cooler than normal. Meanwhile nighttime (minimum) temperatures were normal to slightly above normal during March 2019 for all stations sampled here except for Central Farm where nighttime temperatures were a bit cooler than normal.
Monthly Rainfall Summary
Monthly Maximum Temperatures
Monthly Minimum Temperatures
Rainfall Observed: March 2019 (mm)
Rainfall Observed: March 2019 (% Above/Below Average)
National Meteorological Service of Belize
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day. April is climatologically the driest month of the year in Belize. The month is characterized by dry, warm and hazy conditions. An occasional late-season cold front may cross country. Whenever such systems cross at this time of the year, they typically produce very intense thunderstorm activity. The first four days in April 2019 was mostly dry across the country. Slack pressure patterns supported a light easterly to southeasterly surface flow on the first day. Only light isolated showers were observed. The flow became more easterly to east-northeasterly the following few days but conditions remained mostly dry. The dry conditions were interrupted slightly on the fifth when a few showers and possible isolated thunderstorms affected the extreme south. A return to mainly fair weather was noted on the 6th and 7th. Moisture increased over the country on April 8th. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms were noted over the Maya Mountains and other areas in the Toledo district. A further increase in moisture occurred on the 9th due to a stationary front over Yucatan with a prefrontal trof over the northwest Caribbean Sea. This system produced a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over northern areas in the morning shifting southwards late in the evening. Synoptic analysis over the area suggests that the front actually crossed during the late night hours of the 9th into the 10th and stalled just south of Belize where it rapidly dissipated. Conditions became dry across the country on the 10th with little to no rainfall observed. A high pressure system over the Central Gulf of Mexico that day favoured a light easterly flow. The flow became more east-southeasterly the following day supporting mainly fair, warm and dry conditions. A similar pattern prevailed for the following few days. A weak cold front dipped south, crossing Yucatan late on the 14th and extending to central Belize by early morning on the 15th. This supported strong thunderstorms just north and west of Belize's border on the 14th with moderate shower and thunderstorm activity mostly over inland areas of the country the following day (15th). The frontal boundary retrogressed northward the following day but residual moisture over the area favour isolated showers mostly over central areas of the country. This activity persisted mainly over the northern half of the country on the 17th. The 18th saw a return to mainly fair and dry conditions over the area with little to no rainfall noted. A gusty southeasterly surface flow was noted between the Atlantic high pressure ridge northeast of the area and yet another cold front approaching from the northwest Gulf of Mexico. By the 19th the cold front was already over Yucatan with prefrontal trof extending to northwest Belize. This system only produced isolated showers and thunderstorms over northern and western areas of the country. The cold front crossed overnight on the 19th and by early morning of the 20th it extended from the Gulf of Honduras northeast to western Cuba and beyond. Areas of rain with embedded showers were noted mainly over central and southern areas of the Country during the night into early morning with conditions becoming fair and relatively cool later in the day of the 20th. Remnant moisture from the dissipating frontal boundary produced isolated showers over the south on the 21st and a few showers over central and northern areas on the 22nd. Thereafter, no significant feature affected the country for the remainder of the month. Conditions were generally dry with only isolated showers affecting the country. Additionally, isolated afternoon thunderstorms popped up over the Maya Mountains on the 25th, 27th and 29th. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of April 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal over most areas of the country except for central coastal Belize where rainfall was well above average. The Belize Zoo, Melinda and Belmopan recorded rainfall totals more than twice their normal. The situation was the reverse in the extreme west where both Central Farm and Spanish Lookout registered less than half the normal rainfall amounts for the month. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual for all of the stations sampled here. Meanwhile nighttime (minimum) temperatures were normal to slightly above normal during April 2019 for all stations sampled here except for Central Farm and Melinda where nighttime temperatures were a bit cooler than normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019april1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019april2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019april3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize Monthly weather summaries are prepared by the climate section of the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. The NMS of Belize maintains a network of over 25 weather stations that are situated primarily in the agricultural regions of the country. Temperature and rainfall are read at 9 am each morning and the rainfall total read at this time represents the accumulated rainfall for the previous day. Climatologically May is the warmest month of the year in Belize. The first part of the month is typically characterized by warm, dry and hazy conditions. However, this month is also the transition month from the dry to the wet season across the country. Therefore, the rains usually start in the south after the first week of May and gradually make their way northwards. Weather conditions across the country in May started out warm and mostly dry. A moderate easterly to southeasterly surface flow prevailed during the first week of the month supported by relatively tight pressure gradients between the Atlantic high pressure ridge and thermal trofs/lows over Mexico. The mid to upper levels were mostly dry. Showers were generally isolated during the first two days, followed by little to no rainfall from the 3rd through to the 5th, except for isolated afternoon thunderstorms inland. Rain and thunderstorms affected central and southern areas on the night of the 5th through early morning on the 6th supported by a relatively divergent southwesterly flow aloft. Warm and mostly dry conditions returned for the remainder of the 6th through to the 7th. The second week of May 2019 started out cloudy but with no significant rainfall. The cloudiness was due mostly to the advection of mid to high level layered cloud over the area from thunderstorm activity over southern Mexico and Guatemala. Seasonably warm, hazy and dry conditions persisted on the 9th. The 10th, 11th and 12th saw isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains with little to no rain elsewhere. A weak surface trof was analyzed near the cost of Belize on the 12th but this feature was shallow and did not produce any significant weather across the country. A similar trend continued through to the 14th to close out the second week of the month. The main synoptic pattern to start of the third week of May 2019 consisted of a stationary front well north of Belize over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida while a weak surface trof was further south over the western Gulf and Bay of Campeche. This pattern supported a moderate easterly surface flow over the area. Brief and very light isolated showers were noted overnight with mostly warm, hazy and dry conditions during the day of the 15th with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains. A similar trend continued through to the 19th of May. On the 20th isolated showers developed in the extreme north as well as the south while the 21st saw mainly fair weather except for isolated showers over the south during the early morning hours. Moisture gradually increased over the area during the fourth week of May 2019 signaling that conditions were starting to transition from the dry to the wet season. A broad low was developing over the eastern Pacific which was supporting the advection of deep moisture from the Pacific into Central America. Weather conditions over Belize remained generally fair on the 22nd. Showers were generally isolated that day and affected mostly central areas of the country. The 23rd saw a slight increase in shower activity with a few showers affecting the coast during the morning and most areas by the afternoon. By the following day some showers affected the southern half of the country. The following days (25th to 28th) saw a few showers affecting mainly southern areas of the country. Again this suggested that the rainy season had started in the south. Showers, however, were not confined only to the south during this period. Moisture decreased a bit on the 29th however isolated and thunderstorms still affected the Toledo district overnight on the 28th through early morning on the 29th. Thunderstorms were also noted over the Maya Mountains on the afternoon of the 29th. The main feature continued to be the broad cyclonic gyre encompassing most of Central America and the eastern Pacific. The 30th saw isolated showers and thunderstorms once more over areas along the western border and over the Maya Mountains. Finally, a further increase in moisture was noted on last day of May 2019. This factor coupled with very divergent upper level conditions supported the development of a few showers and thunderstorms especially in the north, over the Maya Mountains and also along the coast of the country. In summary May 2019 was characteristically warm, hazy and mostly dry. However, the rainy season which usually starts at least by the 2nd week of May in the south was a bit late this year as it started well into the fourth week of May 2019. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of May 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal over the north (Corozal District, Orange Walk and most of the Belize Districts). Rainfall was also above normal in parts of Cayo (Central Farm) and coastal Stann Creek district. Meanwhile rainfall was higher than normal over the Toledo district. Particularly in Punta Gorda rainfall was almost twice the normal for May 2019. Some areas saw near normal rainfall such as Belmopan and Savannah. Both daytime (maximum) and nighttime (minimum) temperatures were above normal for most of the stations sampled with only a few exceptions. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019may1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019may2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019may3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019may4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art7/2019may5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize The month of June marks the official beginning of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. In Belize it is also the first full month of the rainy season which usually starts around mid-May. June is climatologically the wettest month of the year at the airport and also at many of the weather stations across the country. Weather systems that typically produce rain during this month include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and very rarely tropical cyclones. June 2019 started off relatively moist and unstable. The main feature was a surface low pressure system that had moved across Central America and entered the bay of Campeche. Meanwhile the upper levels were moist and divergent. This supported cloudy skies on the 1st. A few showers and thunderstorms affected mainly coastal areas before daybreak with slightly more in the south. Shower activity moved north of the country during the day with only isolated showers developing in the interior. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms persisted mainly in the north during the night of the 1st through early morning on the 2nd and then affected mainly central areas later in the day. Rainfall records from 9am on the 1st through 9am on the 2nd show that Hershey on the Hummingbird Highway recorded the most rainfall with a total of 67.6 mm (2.66 inches). Moisture decreased over the area on the 3rd with only isolated showers developing as the low pressure system moved further west away from the country. Mainly fair, warm and mostly dry conditions prevailed over the country for the following few days from the 4th through to the 9th. The only exception to the overall dry pattern was the development of an occasional isolated afternoon thunderstorm over the Maya Mountains. A weak and very inactive tropical wave crossed on the 7th but did not produce any significant rainfall. This dry spell ended on the 10th when a slight increase in moisture was noted over the area. This supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms on the 10th and 11th. These occurred mainly over the Toledo District at nighttime and over the Maya Mountains during the afternoon hours. Punta Gorda recorded a total of 26.0 mm (1.02 inches) and 24.0 mm (0.94 inches) of rainfall on the 10th and 11th respectively. Moisture increased further on the 12th supported mostly by an increase in divergence at the upper levels. This favored the development of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over inland and southern areas early in the day, decreasing later in the afternoon. Relatively moist conditions continued over the area on the 13th and 14th and then started to decrease on the 15th. As a result the 13th saw a few light showers mainly over the northern half of the country. A tropical wave crossed south of the country that day. During the night through early morning on the 14th isolated thunderstorms, a few showers and light rain affected mainly the south at first and then gradually moved toward western parts of the country. Similar weather conditions were noted on the night of the 14th. Later on during the afternoon of the 15th, a few showers were noted over inland areas. Another, albeit less intense, dry spell affected the country from the 16th through to the 20th of June 2019. During this period a weak tropical waves crossed mostly south of the country on the night of the 17th producing a few showers in the extreme south. The dominant weather pattern was tight pressure gradients over the area which supported a moderate to gusty easterly to east-southeasterly airflow. An intrusion of the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) was also noted producing hazy conditions over the area. A slight surge in moisture on the 21st briefly interrupted this dry spell. This supported the development of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over central and southern areas of the country. Similar conditions persisted overnight on the 21st through early morning on the 22nd producing a total of 38.0 mm (1.5 inches) of rainfall in Punta Gorda. As a result, flooding was reported in several villages in southern Toledo. Shower activity decreased during the day on the 22nd. Hazy, dry and warm conditions returned over the area again on the 23rd and this lasted until the 25th. Surface analysis showed that another weak and inactive tropical wave crossed mostly south of the country on the night of the 23rd but this system did not produce any significant rainfall over the area. A gradual increase in moisture was noted over the area during the last five days of June 2019. The strong trade winds decreased a bit favoring the gradual build-up of moisture. On the larger scale, a gradual relaxation of an earlier strong subsident/convergent phase of the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) was occurring. As a result a few showers developed over central areas on the 26th and a few thunderstorms in the south with the approach and passage of a tropical wave. A few more showers and isolated thunderstorms affected southern areas on the night of the 26th into the early morning of the 27th and then affected mainly central areas later on the 27th. Another tropical wave crossed on the night of the 27th into the early morning hours of the 28th. This supported more showers and isolated thunderstorms over the south that lasted into the morning of the 28th. Later in the afternoon this activity affected mostly northern and inland areas before becoming isolated late in the evening. Finally the weekend of 29th and 30th, saw a further increase in moisture over the area. A relatively strong tropical wave was approaching on the 29th which crossed later in the night. Conditions were moist that day with some showers, periods of rain and a few thunderstorms moving from southeast to northwest across the country. Moist and unstable conditions persisted over the area on the last day of June 2019. This supported some early morning showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain mainly over the south and coast at first spreading to most areas by midday into early afternoon with some breaks later in the afternoon into the evening. Of all the stations sampled for this report, Punta Gorda recorded the highest one day total for the month. This occurred between 9am on the 29th and 9am on the 30th with a total of 87.0 mm (3.43 inches). In summary, although June 2019 saw its fair share of tropical waves passing the country, most of these were weak and inactive. Three marked dry spells affected the country during the month. The first and most intense of these lasted about six days (4th to 9th) while the second one which was weaker lasted about five days from the 16th to the 20th. A third intense, but shorter, dry spell occurred from the 22nd to the 25th of June 2019. These dry spells (particularly the third one) were not as severe in the extreme south where rainfall was a bit more regular. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of June 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of the country except over the southern Toledo district where rainfall was near normal for the month. Both daytime (maximum) and nighttime (minimum) temperatures were above normal for most of the stations sampled with only a few exceptions. In conclusion, June 2019 was drier and warmer than usual. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019june1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019june2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019june3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019june4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019june5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, July 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize July, on average, is the second wettest month of the year for the country of Belize. Systems that affect the country during this month normally include tropical waves, tropical upper tropospheric troughs (TUTTs) and occasionally tropical cyclones. However, July 2019 was significantly drier than normal. Generally fair, warm and dry conditions dominated the country from the 1st through to the 5th of July 2019. The dominant surface feature during this period was the Atlantic High Pressure Ridge north and northeast of the area which supported a moderate easterly surface flow. Based on the National Hurricane Center (NHC) analysis, tropical waves that crossed during this period were mostly south of Belize. Upper level conditions were mostly convergent and dry which inhibited the formation of deep convection over the area. As a result, only light isolated showers were noted. Most stations recorded little to no rainfall during this period, except for Melinda which recorded 22.9 mm of rainfall on the 5th. Changes in the upper levels supported an increase in upper level divergence and atmospheric moisture over the area on the 6th. This supported an increase in showers and thunderstorms mainly over central areas of the country that afternoon. Moisture increased further on the 7th supporting showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain mainly over central and northern areas. This activity continued throughout the night of the 7th through early morning on the 8th, while spreading to most areas of the country. A total of 106 mm of rainfall was recorded at Punta Gorda on the morning of the 8th of July. NHC analysis showed a tropical wave passing over the country around midday on the 8th. Another dry spell affected most of the country from the 9th through to the 14th of July 2019. Showers were isolated across the country except for slightly more in the south during the nighttime hours. One tropical wave crossed with axis mostly south of the country on the 13th. This system produced rainfall mostly over southern Belize. As a result Punta Gorda recorded 24 mm and 26 mm of rainfall on the 13th and 14th, respectively. A tropical wave crossed the country late on the 15th supporting a modest increase in moisture and resulting in a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over central and southern areas of the country. Slightly moist conditions lingered over the area on the following day, resulting in similar weather. Another tropical wave then crossed the country late on the 17th supporting a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over inland areas during the evening then spreading to southern areas overnight. Belmopan recorded 26.6 mm of rainfall on the 17th. Relatively dry conditions returned over the country later on the 18th through to the 19th. This was followed by an increase in moisture once more on the 20th due to passage of a tropical wave coupled with favorable conditions at the upper levels. This aided in the development of some showers and a few thunderstorms over southern Belize before dawn on the 20th. A few showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain then spread to most areas of the country later in the day. This activity continued throughout the night of the 20th through early morning on the 21st, decreasing later in the day. The highest reported daily rainfall was at Hershey where a total of 129.2 mm was recorded on the morning of the 20th. A third dry spell for the month was noted from the 22nd to the 27th of July 2019. The dry was particularly intense during the first two days of this dry spell with little to no rainfall observed across the country. Based on NHC analysis a weak tropical wave crossed mostly south of the country late on the 22nd but this did not produce any significant rainfall over Belize. The remainder of the period continued mostly dry but isolated showers were noted. Tropical waves crossed on the early morning of the 25th and around midnight on the 26th. These supported generally isolated showers across the country. Another and slightly stronger tropical wave crossed on the night of the 27th. This system produced a few showers and thunderstorms mostly over southern and central areas on the night of the 27th through early morning of the 28th. This activity decreased later in the day of the 28th. 64 mm of rainfall was recorded in Punta Gorda. The last few days of July 2019 saw variations in moisture levels. Showers were generally isolated on the 29th with more activity over the south during the night. The 30th saw a few showers and isolated thunderstorms in the south during the morning and inland later in the afternoon. Finally, on the last day of July 2019 a few showers and isolated thunderstorms affected mostly central and northern parts of the country. Although several tropical waves crossed the area in July 2019, these were mostly weak and crossed mostly south of the country. As a result rainfall was well below normal for most of the country during the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of July 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for the entire country during the month. Values ranged from around 20% below normal in the south to over 50% below normal over central and northern areas. In terms of maximum/daytime temperatures, all of the stations sampled here show that daytime temperatures were warmer than normal during July 2019. A similar conclusion can be made about the nighttime/minimum temperatures across the country, except for Central Farm where nighttimes were slightly cooler than average for the month. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019july1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019july2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019july3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019july4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019july5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize Climatologically speaking, August is known for its two weeks dry spell known locally as the "maga season". As a result, a marked drop in rainfall can be seen around August when looking at the annual rainfall distribution for the country. Weather systems that typically affect Belize during the month of August are Tropical Waves (TWs), Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and an occasional Tropical Cyclone (TCs) (tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane). Abnormally dry conditions continued in August 2019 with rainfall being below normal across most of the country. The first day of the month started off relatively dry with showers and thunderstorms being generally isolated. A tropical wave was approaching the area. By the 2nd of the month the wave was located over the Gulf of Honduras and it crossed late in the evening. This supported an increase in moisture which peaked on the 3rd. As a result a few showers affected mainly inland areas that day. Conditions became mostly dry on the 4th with little to no rainfall across the country. Generally fair weather persisted through to the 7th of the month. The only exception was over the Toledo district at nighttime where a few showers and thunderstorms developed. Otherwise the rest of the country saw only isolated showers or thunderstorms. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) analysis suggests that the second and third tropical waves for the month crossed the country late on the 5th and 7th respectively but most of the activity with these systems was confined to southern Belize. The fourth tropical wave for August 2019 crossed on the 9th. The approach of this wave supported an increase in moisture on the previous day with a few showers and possible thunderstorms affecting central and northern districts. Moisture increased further on the night of the 8th through early morning of the 9th resulting in some showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain mainly over southern and coastal areas. Although conditions continued cloudy for the rest of the day, showers and thunderstorms decreased. Showers returned to the Toledo district late night on the 9th into early morning of the 10th but again this activity decreased throughout the day with weather conditions becoming generally fair over most areas. Fair and warm weather then prevailed over the area from the 11th through to the 13th. A weak tropical wave (the fifth for the month) that crossed early on the 13th only helped to support early morning isolated showers over the Toledo district. Relatively dry conditions continued the following two days (14th and 15th) with slightly more activity over southern areas in the nighttime and over inland areas in the afternoon hours. Another weak tropical wave crossed early on the 15th. Moisture increased slightly on the 16th but showers remained isolated. A further increase in moisture the following day supported the development of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms across the country. This was associated with the 7th tropical wave for the month that crossed around midnight. As a result a few showers continued over the south overnight on the 17th then showers shifted to northern areas in the early morning hours of the 18th. The remainder of the 18th saw a return to generally fair conditions. Mainly fair weather continued on the 19th except for the development of a few early morning showers over the Maya Mountains. The 8th tropical wave for August 2019 crossed on the 20th. This wave was a bit more active as it was being enhanced by favorable upper level conditions due to a TUTT/low with axis west of the country. This resulted in a few showers and periods of rain affecting the country. Moisture decreased as the system moved away the following day. Showers occurred in the morning with conditions becoming generally fair by afternoon. A significant dry spell was then noted from the 22nd to the 29th of August 2019. This period saw mainly fair and warm weather across the country. The 9th tropical wave for the month crossed on the night of the 26th but this system was weak and did not produce any significant rainfall except for a few showers and thunderstorms over the Toledo district. The next tropical wave which crossed early morning of the 28th was also rather weak and inactive with isolated showers and thunderstorm activity confined to the extreme southwestern portions of the country. The last two days of August 2019 saw a very slack pressure pattern develop over the area. This resulted in very light and variable winds across the country. Subsequently, daytime maximum temperatures soared especially over the mainland. This lead to the development of afternoon showers and thunderstorms over inland and northern areas. Tower Hill in the Orange Walk district recorded 73.6 mm and 65.3 mm of rainfall on the 30th and 31st respectively. This made of for the deficit in rainfall experienced earlier in the month over that station helping it to almost achieve its normal for the month. Although a total of ten tropical waves crossed the area in August 2019, these were mostly weak and most of the activity associated with them was confined to southern areas of the country. As a result rainfall was well below normal for most of the country during the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of August 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of the country during the month. Tower Hill in the Orange Walk district saw near normal rainfall due to just two days of intense afternoon thunderstorm activity during the final days of the month. Otherwise most of the country saw record low rainfall. It is worth noting the the Airport station recorded its lowest total rainfall for August since record keeping began at this station in 1952. In terms of maximum/daytime temperatures, all of the stations sampled here show that daytime temperatures were warmer than normal during August 2019. A similar conclusion can be made about the nighttime/minimum temperatures across the country, except for Central Farm where nighttimes were slightly cooler than average for the month. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019august1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019august2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019august3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019august4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019august5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize September is typically a wet month for the country of Belize. It also coincides with the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season and a significant amount of the historical tropical cyclones that have affected the country occurred during the month of September. Apart from tropical cyclones, other systems that typically affect Belize during the month of September include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Troposheric Troughs (TUTTs) and at times cold fronts and frontal shear lines affect the country as early as September. September 2019 was drier than normal for most of the country. Driest conditions were experienced over central and southern coastal areas. The north was just a bit drier than normal. The month started off slightly moist with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms affecting mostly inland areas on the first two days. The main synoptic feature at the surface was powerful Hurricane Dorian northeast of the area near the Bahamas. This created a very slack pressure pattern over our area with light and variable winds. A weak tropical wave crossed late during the night of the 1st through early morning of the 2nd. Conditions became drier from the 3rd and 4th. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated during this period with slightly more affecting the southern districts during the nighttime. Another increase in moisture followed the passage of a tropical wave on the 5th. However, showers and thunderstorms were confined mostly to the south that day. Showers and thunderstorms increased later on the night of the 5th through to the 6th with activity spreading to other areas of the country. The 7th and 8th saw a diurnal pattern of overnight showers and thunderstorms in the south, spreading to other areas in the early morning and becoming isolated by afternoon. Moisture increased over the area on the 9th with the approach of the third tropical wave for the month. The tropical wave crossed late in the evening supporting a few showers mostly over central, southern and inland areas of the country. Conditions continued relatively moist during the following two days (10th and 11th). This moisture along with relatively divergent conditions at the upper levels continued to support the development of a few showers and thunderstorms across the country. Punta Gorda recorded a total of 116 mm of rainfall on the 10th. The fourth tropical wave to cross the country in September 2019 did so around midday on the 12th. This wave arrived under favorable upper level dynamics and aided the development of a few showers and thunderstorms mostly over northern areas of the country. Libertad recorded 27.8 mm of rainfall that day. The 13th continued relatively moist with some showers and thunderstorms affecting most areas of the country. Although, the 5th tropical wave for the month crossed on the 14th showers and thunderstorms that day were not as widespread as on the previous day. Moisture decreased further over the area on the 15th. A few showers and thunderstorms over southern and central portions of the mainland in the morning became generally isolated after mid-afternoon. Generally fair condition continued across the country from the 16th through to the 19th. Showers were generally isolated with a few more along with isolated thunderstorms at times over the Toledo district. The passage of the 6th tropical wave for the month on the 20th saw an increase in moisture across the country. This supported the development of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms during the morning hours that decreased after mid-afternoon. The National Hurricane Center's analysis suggests that a 7th wave crossed on the 21st. However, this system was weak and only supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains and only isolated showers elsewhere. A very slack pressure pattern dominated across the area from the 22nd through to the 26th. Additionally, conditions were relatively moist during the period. Rainfall records suggests that most rainfall activity occurred over northern and inland areas during this period. Libertad in the Corozal district recorded 68.8 mm of rainfall on the 25th while Belmopan recorded 30.1 mm that same day. The last few days of the month continued slightly moist with weakly divergent conditions at the upper levels. This supported some instability over the area. Showers and thunderstorms occurred mostly during the late evening to nighttime hours during this period. In summary, although the month of September 2019 saw relatively moist atmospheric conditions for quite a few days, this did not translate to substantial amounts of rainfall. On the contrary, most areas of the country experienced below normal rainfall. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of September 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of the country. However, the extreme north (Libertad) was only slightly below normal compared to other areas. In terms of maximum temperatures most of the stations sampled here reported higher than average maximum / daytime temperatures except for the Belize Zoo. A similar situation can be said for minimum/nighttime temperatures where all the stations except for Central Farm reported temperatures warmer than usual during the nighttime. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019september1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019september2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019september3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019september4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019september5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize October is typically one of the wettest month for the country of Belize. Systems that usually affect the country during this month include tropical waves and Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs). On occasions a tropical cyclone may affect the country during October. Cold fronts often affect the country during this month as well. The month of October 2019 started off relatively moist and unstable. A tropical wave with an embedded area of low pressure was slowly approaching the country. The 1st saw the development of a few showers and thunderstorms mainly over inland and southern areas. Moisture increased further on the 2nd supporting an increase in coverage of showers and thunderstorms. The low pressure system and tropical wave was now over the Gulf of Honduras. The system passed over Belize and Yucatan late on the 2nd through early morning of the 3rd supporting the development of some showers and thunderstorms over most areas of the country. Central Farm in Cayo recorded a total of 53.3 mm of rainfall between 9 am on the 2nd and 9 am on the 3rd. Moisture decreased slightly on the 4th as the system moved further inland over Yucatan. However, a few showers and isolated thunderstorms persisted over northern and northwestern portions of the country that day. Similar weather conditions persisted on the following two days (5th and 6th) with shower and thunderstorm activity occurring mostly over inland and northern areas. A trough of low pressure developed over the country extending from Belize north-northeastward to the northern Bahamas late on the 6th through to the 7th. This supported very moist conditions with overnight showers and thunderstorms mainly over northern and central areas, becoming isolated later on the 7th. Tower Hill in Orange Walk recorded 34.1 mm of rainfall. Showers and thunderstorms developed mostly over the south on the night of the 7th through early morning of the 8th with Punta Gorda recording 112.0 mm of rainfall. A few showers and periods of rain lingered over northern and inland areas throughout the remainder of the 8th. Relatively moist conditions persisted on the 9th with a few showers and thunderstorms mainly along the coast. The 2nd tropical wave for October 2019 crossed the country during the early morning hours of the 10th. This supported the development of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over central and southern areas. The 3rd tropical wave for the month followed closely behind the 2nd and crossed the country on the evening of the 11th. This system aided in the development of a few showers across the country. After a slight decrease in moisture on the 12th, moisture increased once more on the 13th with the approach of a low pressure system that developed along the east coast of Nicaragua. The National Hurricane Center was monitoring this system but gave it a very low chance of development in 48 hours. NEMO and the NMS was also closely monitoring it for any development. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms affecting mainly southern and coastal areas on the night of the 12th through early morning on the 13th and then showers and thunderstorms developed mainly over northern and central areas later on the 13th. The area of low pressure crossed the country on the 14th. Its approach supported the development of some showers, thunderstorms and rain from overnight on the 13th continuing for most of the day of the 14th. Heavy rains caused flooding in San Ignacio as well as down south in Punta Gorda where a total of 236 mm of rainfall was recorded between the 12th and 14th. Moisture decreased over the country on the 15th as the system moved west of Belize as an open trough. However, outbreaks of showers still continued over the south and coast on the night of the 14th through early morning of the 15th with conditions improving later in the day. By the 16th conditions had become mostly dry over the country. Fair, warm and mostly dry weather prevailed over the area from the 17th through to the 21st of October 2019. A weak tropical wave (the 5th for the month) crossed between the 19th and 20th but this system did not support any significant development of showers and thunderstorms. The 6th tropical wave for October 2019 was more active when it crossed on the 22nd. As a result, a few showers and thunderstorms affected most areas of the country that day. Moist conditions persisted the following day with showers and thunderstorms affecting most areas. By the 24th moisture had decreased somewhat with showers and thunderstorms becoming isolated. Relatively dry conditions were noted on the 25th. The approach of the 7th tropical wave for October along with the proximity of a front dipping as far south as northwestern Yucatan between the 26th and 27th resulted in some moisture convergence over the area. This supported a few showers and thunderstorms mainly over northern and inland areas on the afternoon and night of the 26th. Showers redeveloped mainly over the Maya Mountains on the 27th. The tropical wave did not actually crossed until early morning of the 28th. As a result overnight (27th-28th) showers and thunderstorms affected the Toledo district. This activity then became concentrated mainly along the coast on the morning of the 28th spreading to inland areas later in the afternoon. Conditions became relatively drier over the country on the 29th. However, a few showers still developed across different areas of the country that day. Showers developed once more over the south on the night of the 29th through early morning of the 30th becoming isolated later in the day and affecting mainly northern areas. Showers redeveloped once more over the south that night. The last day of October 2019 started off generally fair, but the approach and passage of the 8th tropical wave later in the day supported a few afternoon showers mainly over central areas. In summary, a total of eight tropical waves affected the country in October 2019. The strongest wave had an area of low pressure embedded with it and crossed the country around the middle of the month with heavy showers and thunderstorms. This resulted in flooding over some areas in the west and south. Additionally, for the first time in quite a few months, rainfall was above normal for most areas in October 2019. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of October 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal for most of the country except for some areas in northern Cayo and western Orange Walk district where rainfall was normal to just slightly below normal. October 2019 was warmer than normal as can be seen from the records of both maximum temperatures and minimum/nighttime temperatures across the stations sampled. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019october1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019october2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019october3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019october4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019october5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize November is the last month of the Atlantic basin hurricane season. For Belize it is a month in which the climate of the country transitions gradually from the rainy season to the cooler transition period between December and January. Therefore, it is a month in which the country is affected from both tropical systems such as tropical waves and possible tropical cyclones as well as frontal systems. The first day of November 2019 started off relatively moist. A cold front was just north of Yucatan while a tropical wave was over the west/central Caribbean Sea near 80W. Moisture convergence between these features supported a few showers, periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms across the country. Similar conditions persisted the following day. However, low level moisture decreased somewhat on the 3rd. A few showers and thunderstorms persisted over northern and coastal areas that morning but decreased later in the afternoon. Although conditions continued relatively dry for most areas of the country during the night of the 3rd through early morning of the 4th, a very localized but intense rainfall event occurred over the western Cayo District during the early morning hours of the 4th. Reports from the automatic weather station at Chaa Creek indicated that a total of 137.2 mm of rain fell within a four hour period from 1 am to 5 am during the early morning hours of the 4th. This resulted in flooding in various areas including Benque Viejo, Succotz, San Antonio and Cristo Rey. NHC analysis suggested that a tropical wave may have aided in this activity as one was analyzed mostly to the south of the country around midnight between the 3rd and the 4th. Conditions improved for the remainder of the 4th but a few more showers occurred again during the night into early morning of the 5th. Moisture decreased further on the 6th and showers were generally isolated in a diurnal pattern that day. NHC's analysis suggests the passage of another tropical wave early that day but this system was not very active. Except for shower activity over the south, south-coast and off shore areas, the 7th continued generally fair for most other areas. A third tropical wave for the month crossed the country late on the 8th producing a few showers mostly over the southern half of the country. Shower activity was isolated across the country on the 9th and 10th even though a front had dipped south extending across Yucatan/just north of the country by the 10th. The system stalled and dissipated in that general vicinity by the 11th. Showers continued generally isolated. A slight increase in moisture on the 12th supported a few showers and thunderstorms mostly over southern coastal areas. Shower activity shifted to northern areas the following day with a cold front extending across NW Yucatan and a surface trof extending from Belize northeastward into the NW Caribbean Sea. The fourth tropical wave for the month crossed late on the 14th but did not produce any significant weather except for isolated shower activity in the south that night. The only cold front for November 2019 crossed late on the 15th. The day was generally fair with only isolated showers but as the front crossed during the night it produced a few light to moderate showers mostly over central areas of the country. The following day (16th) was cool with light isolated showers confined to the Toledo district. The following four days (17th to 20th) would see cool and mostly dry weather with little to no rainfall as a high pressure ridge dominated in the wake of the cold front. The ridge shifted eastward by the 21st causing winds to veer more to the east. This influx of maritime moisture along with a weak surface trof along the coast of Belize supported the development of isolated showers and light rain mainly over northern and central areas. Similar conditions persisted the following day. Conditions were generally fair on the 23rd with isolated showers affected mainly the San Pedro area. On the 24th a few showers affected the South overnight and the Maya Mountains during the afternoon. Elsewhere, conditions continued generally fair. Mainly fair and dry weather continued on the 25th and 26th with very little rainfall except for small isolated showers across the country. Moisture increased a bit on the 27th with the approach of a tropical wave. This supported a few showers and thunderstorms over offshore and central areas in the late afternoon into nighttime hours. The tropical wave (the fourth for the month) crossed late in the evening/early night of the 27th. Residual moisture from this system supported a few more showers mostly over the Maya Mountains on the 28th. The last two days of November 2019 saw generally fair weather with only isolated showers developing. In summary, a total of four tropical waves and one cold front affected the country in November 2019. Except for the first wave which helped to produce an intense but very localized rainfall event over the extreme western Cayo district, these waves were rather weak and did not produce significant rainfall. The cold front did not produce intense shower and thunderstorm activity with its passage either. As a result rainfall for the month was well below normal for most areas except over western Cayo where rainfall was near normal due to the singular event mentioned above. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of November 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was well below normal for most of the country except for some areas in western Cayo where rainfall was near normal. In general, November 2019 was warmer than normal as can be seen from the records of both maximum temperatures and minimum/nighttime temperatures across the stations sampled. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019november1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019november2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019november3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: November 2019 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019november4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: November 2019 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019november5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2019National Meteorological Service of Belize December marks the first month of the cool transition period between the rainy season and the dry season for Belize. This transition period typically lasts for about two to three months before the dry season sets in between mid February and early March. December is typically cool over the country with the main rainfall producers being cold fronts, prefrontal troughs and shear lines. The first day of December 2019 was mainly fair as a light east to northeasterly airflow prevailed over the country then the flow became north to northeasterly on the second day as the first cold front of the month approached later that night. The front stalled and dissipated over the country resulting in light showers and rain mainly over the mountains and southern offshore areas from the 3rd to the 5th. High pressure influence behind the front supported fair, mild and mostly dry conditions across the country from the 6th to the 10th. A stationary front over the Bay of Campeche induced a light to moderate east to northeasterly flow over the area that supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over southern coastal areas on the 11th. A few showers persisted along the south coast and spread to central areas on the 12th and 13th becoming isolated by sunset on the 13th. Generally fair conditions prevailed from the 14th to 16th as a weak pressure gradient dominated the northwest Caribbean and maintained a light east to northeasterly flow over the country. A prefrontal trough supported a squall line during the early afternoon of the 17th that generated thunderstorms and showers mainly over northern inland and southern inland areas of the country. The activity continued overnight mainly over the north and west with some showers and rain persisting through to the 18th morning. Skies were overcast on the 18th and light rain affected most of the mainland while thunderstorms and showers remained offshore as the cold front crossed the country. Cloudy and cool conditions along with a moderate west to northwesterly flow prevailed over the country from the 19th to the 21st after the passage of the front. Light rain affected the mainland and showers occurred offshore. The 22nd started off cloudy with mostly layered clouds that dissipated in the afternoon and a moderate to gusty north to northwesterly airflow prevailed. A few showers and light rain continued to affect northern portions of the country. Mainly fair, cool and dry conditions persisted over the next few days from the 23rd through to the 25th as the airflow remained gusty and from the north to northwest up to the 24th then became light and northerly on Christmas day. The 26th to the 28th winds were light and variable as a slack pressure gradient dominated the Caribbean basin. A light east to southeasterly airflow and fair conditions prevailed over the country on the 29th. No rainfall occurred during this period. The 30th of December was generally fair with only isolated showers as a light easterly airflow prevailed over the area while on the last day of the month a few showers affected the mainland especially central areas as another cold front approached the country. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of December 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month. Rainfall was below normal for northern and central inland areas of the country while it was above normal for central coastal and southern areas except for Melinda in the Stann Creek District. Maximum temperatures show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, except for Savannah where the average maximum temperature for the month was slightly below normal and the Airport where the average maximum for the month was just about normal. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were near normal for most areas. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019dec1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019dec2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2019dec3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize January falls within the cool transition period between the rainy season and the dry season for Belize. This transition period typically lasts for about two to three months from December to mid February or early March when the dry season sets in. January is typically cool over the country and can be wet at times. The main rainfall producers during this month are cold fronts, prefrontal troughs and shear lines. January 2020 started off uncharacteristically fair, warm and mostly dry as a light to moderate East to southeasterly airflow dominated the area. A frontal system reached as far as northern Yucatan then gradually retreated over the Gulf of Mexico by nightfall on the first day of the New Year. Weather conditions remained fair with little or no rainfall from the 2nd to the 3rd. A moderate to gusty North to northwesterly flow prevailed on the 4th along with layered clouds as a cold front crossed the country. Light rain affected mainly the Belmopan area during the frontal passage. Skies remained cloudy to overcast and winds gusty and from the north to northwest on the 5th with light showers or rain mostly over coastal waters. Cloudy skies continued to dominate most of the country from the 6th to the 8th with light rain occurring mainly offshore at first then showers and periods of rain affected central areas on the 8th as a gusty East to Northeast flow prevailed due to a surface trough over the western Caribbean Sea. As the trough moved closer to the coast of Central America conditions became even moister and unstable on the 9th resulting in showers and thunderstorms especially over northern and central areas. By the 10th a strong ridge of high pressure dominated the Caribbean basin and a moderate to gusty East-southeasterly airflow prevailed which supported mostly isolated showers across the country. The strong high pressure ridge continued to dominate over the next few days from the 11th through to 15th and maintained a gusty East to southeast flow on the 11th with only isolated showers developing. From the 12th to the 15th gusty east to northeast winds prevailed and showers affected mostly northern and central areas on the 12th and 13th but spread to most areas on the night of the 13th then affected mainly central and southern coastal areas on the 14th and 15th. A few showers and periods of rain continued to affect southern and central portions of the country on the 16th as a weak surface trough developed over the western Caribbean Sea. This activity increased overnight especially over the south where some showers and a few thunderstorms developed along with rough seas. Conditions remained moist and unstable on the 17th with shower and thunderstorm activity increasing and spreading to most areas with the heavier showers affecting southern districts. The highest rainfall was recorded in Dangriga where almost an inch and a half of rainfall fell in a six hour period. A few showers continued across the country on the 18th then the activity became isolated during the night and on the 19th. Moisture and winds started to increase once more over the area on the 20th with the approach of another cold front. This supported the development of a line of moderate showers that moved primarily over northern and central areas of the country overnight. A ridge of high pressure dominated during the next couple of days from the 21st to the 22nd in the wake of the cold front and supported variably cloudy, cool and mostly dry conditions over the country with no significant rainfall. Generally fair weather with only isolated showers prevailed from the 23rd to the 25th as a light East to northeasterly airflow dominated the area. From the 26th to the 29th conditions remained fair but became even drier as an East to southeasterly airflow prevailed. The last couple days of the month weather conditions continued mainly fair and mostly dry from the 30th to the 31st with the exception of only isolated showers over the western edge of the Maya Mountains during the night of the 31st. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature for the month of January 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal for most of the country except in the south Stann Creek area and Toledo District where it was near normal. Some northern and coastal areas saw rainfall in excess of 50-70% above normal. Maximum temperatures show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, except for Savannah where the average maximum temperature for the month was normal. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were warmer than usual for most areas except for Punta Gorda where the average minimum temperature for the month was about 1 degree cooler. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jan1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jan2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jan3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jan4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jan5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize February typically marks the beginning of the dry season for the country. Temperatures normally start increasing as the month is characterized by a warm easterly to southeasterly surface airflow. Whatever limited rainfall that occurs during the month is typically associated with one or two cold fronts, prefrontal trofs, shear lines and low level easterly wind surges. February 2020 started with the approach and passage of a cold front during the late evening. This front supported showers and isolated thunderstorms over most of the country that resulted in one inch and a half of rainfall at Savannah in southern Stann Creek, over one inch at Hershey on the Hummingbird Highway and half of an inch at Central Farm in the Cayo district. The second day of the month winds remained gusty and from the north to northeast but mainly fair, mild and dry weather prevailed across the country. Skies were cloudy on the 3rd with mostly layered clouds and small areas of light rain confined to northern and central coastal areas. The 4th started off with brief isolated showers mainly over central and offshore areas that lasted until mid-morning then conditions became fair, warm and dry through to the 6th as a gusty southeasterly flow dominated the area. Moisture and clouds increased on the 7th as a weak trough ahead of a stationary front over the Yucatan Peninsula induced gusty north to northwest winds over the country. Only isolated showers or light rain occurred along offshore and over central areas during the afternoon then over the Maya Mountains during the night. Mainly fair conditions with only isolated shower activity prevailed over the country from the 8th to the 10th as a moderate sometimes gusty easterly to southeasterly airflow prevailed. Weather conditions remained warm and mostly dry from the 11th through to the 13th as the easterly to southeasterly flow continued to dominate the country then an east to northeasterly flow developed on the 14th as a pre-frontal trough approached the area. This supported a few showers over southern and coastal areas of the country overnight. This activity continued on the 15th with a few showers mainly southward of Belize City that became isolated by sunset. Generally fair weather with only isolated showers prevailed from the 16th through most of the 17th as a light to moderate easterly airflow dominated the area then a few showers affected central and some northern areas during the night of the 17th. Isolated showers continued to affect northern districts during the daytime on the 18th then southern districts during the night. On the 19th mainly fair weather prevailed except for a few showers that occurred over the south overnight then only isolated showers developed during the afternoon of the 20th. Skies became cloudy overnight on the 21st as another cold front approached the country. The proximity of this front supported an increase in moisture and showers that resulted in close to an inch of rainfall at Hershey and Belmopan. Showers and light rain affected northern portions of the country before midnight while the activity occurred over central and southern areas after midnight. The front crossed the country around midnight on the 22nd and was near the southern border by morning. A moderate north to northeasterly airflow along with cloudy and cool conditions prevailed in its wake. From the 23rd to the 25th conditions remained fair but became sunny and drier as an east to southeasterly airflow replaced the north to north easterlies. The 26th started off generally fair and warm then isolated thunderstorms developed over the Maya Mountains around mid-afternoon and over the northwest later that evening ahead of an approaching cold front. Cloudy conditions along with gusty north to northwesterly winds accompanied showers, isolated thunderstorms and light rain over most areas overnight. The third cold front for February 2020 crossed the country during the morning of the 27th with overcast skies and very gusty winds that produced rough sea conditions. Rainfall was mostly light and occurred mainly off the coast. The last two days of February were generally cloudy and cool with not much rainfall except for light rain that occurred over central coastal areas early on the night of the 29th. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of February 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. Rainfall was below normal over most of the Orange Walk, Cayo, Belize and Stann Creek districts while over the Toledo district rainfall was near normal. Rainfall was above normal for the Corozal district and south Stann Creek. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual while minimum/nighttime temperatures were slightly above normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020feb1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020feb2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020feb3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize March is usually a warm, dry and windy month across the country of Belize. A gusty easterly to southeasterly wind normally prevails throughout much of the month supporting warm and fair conditions. Whatever limited rainfall that occurs during the month is typically associated with one or two cold fronts, prefrontal troughs, shear lines and low level easterly wind surges. March 2020 started off generally fair with only light isolated showers as a moderate Easterly to northeasterly airflow prevailed across the country. The second day of the month skies were mostly cloudy as layered clouds dominated the area but no significant rainfall occurred. From the 3rd throughout the day of the 5th characteristically warm and dry conditions prevailed then moisture started to increase during the night of the 5th as a cold front approached the country. A cold front crossed the country during the early morning of the 6th and stalled later that day just east of the country. The proximity of the stationary front resulted in an unusually wet National Heroes and Benefactors holiday weekend. Skies became cloudy to overcast with showers and light rain affecting mostly central and southern areas of the country on the 6th, increasing and spreading to inland areas on the 7th.. The frontal boundary continued to support cloudy conditions along with a few showers and periods of light rain from the 8th to the 10th with a gradual decrease in activity by the 10th. Generally fair conditions resumed over much of the country for the next several days from the 11th to the 20th as either an easterly airflow or an east-northeasterly flow dominated the area. Shower activity was limited during this period except for isolated showers that affected mostly southern areas and to a lesser extent coastal areas. Weather conditions remained fair from the 21st to the 23rd with no significant rainfall as a light easterly to northeasterly airflow prevailed across the country. Seasonably warm and dry conditions dominated from the 24th through to the end of the month as the characteristic moderate to gusty east-southeasterly airflow prevailed. Rainfall activity remained sparse. In summary one cold front crossed the country on March 6th and produced most of the rainfall for the month as its effects lasted up to the 10th. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of March 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was well below normal over northern districts as well as over some parts of the Cayo district. In the Belize District, rainfall was about 50% below normal and in Belmopan rainfall was slightly below normal. Meanwhile rainfall over the southern part of the country was above normal for March 2020. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual for most of the stations sampled except for Savannah where daytime temperatures were slightly cooler than normal. Meanwhile minimum/nighttime temperatures were normal to slightly above normal during March 2020 for all stations except for Punta Gorda where temperatures were a bit cooler than normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020mar1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020mar2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020mar3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020mar4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020mar5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize April is climatologically the driest month of the year in Belize. The month is characterized by dry, warm and hazy conditions. An occasional late-season cold front may cross country. Whenever such systems cross at this time of the year, they typically produce very intense thunderstorm activity. April 2020 started off typical as seasonably warm and dry conditions prevailed across the country during the first five days of the month. A slack pressure gradient supported a light easterly to southeasterly airflow for the first three days then winds became moderate from the 4th to the 5th day. No shower activity occurred. Fair, warm and dry weather continued on the 6th and 7th then conditions became warmer and drier from the 8th to the 10th as the country remained under the influence of a high pressure system centered over the northwest Caribbean. Hot, dry, windy and hazy conditions dominated the country from the 11th to the 12th as a gusty easterly to southeasterly airflow developed between low pressures over southern Mexico and the Atlantic High Pressure ridge northeast of the area. From the 13th onwards, smoke from agricultural fires in neighboring Central American countries streamed across the country but was more prevalent in western areas. The smoky conditions along with haze resulted in very hot temperatures and high humidity especially inland. Except for an isolated thunderstorm over the Maya Mountains on the 20th conditions remained very dry across the country. The 21st saw a reprieve from the hot and smoky conditions as the flow became easterly to northeasterly. This was short-lived however, as by the 22nd the moderate to gusty easterly to southeasterly flow resumed resulting in hot, hazy, smoky and mostly dry conditions. Only isolated thunderstorms moved across the western border towards the Maya mountains during the evening of the 24th. A moderate to gusty easterly to northeasterly surface flow prevailed over the area from the 25th to the 26th but conditions continued warm and mostly dry but less smoky and hazy. Mainly fair and warm conditions prevailed on the 27th and 28th except for a few showers or isolated thunderstorms that affected the extreme part of the Toledo district on the 28th morning. Skies were cloudy with mostly high level clouds on the 29th while conditions remained fair over most areas except for isolated thunderstorms that developed just to the south of Punta Gorda Town during the early morning and over the west during the afternoon. Moisture increased slightly on the 30th as a pre-frontal trough reached the extreme north of the country. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed over the western portion of the Cayo district and also affected some areas in the north by evening. In summary no cold front crossed the country during April 2020 but a pre-frontal trough brought much needed rainfall to areas in the extreme west and some northern areas. Abnormally high temperatures were observed from the 13th and a severe heat wave affected the country from the 20th to the 26th. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of April 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most areas of the country received no rainfall except for Libertad and Spanish Lookout that recorded less than normal rainfall while Central Farm rainfall was around average. Maximum/daytime temperatures were warmer than usual with Belmopan and Central Farm registering temperatures greater than 35 degrees Celsius for several days and extremes of 40.3 and 40.9 degrees Celsius respectively on April 24th. Nighttime (minimum) temperatures were warmer than normal for all stations except for Punta Gorda where nighttime temperatures were a bit cooler than normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020apr1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020apr2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020apr3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize Climatologically May is the warmest month of the year in Belize. The first part of the month is typically characterized by warm, dry and hazy conditions. However, this month is also the transition month from the dry to the wet season across the country. Therefore, the rains usually start in the south after the first week of May and gradually make their way northwards. May 2020 started mainly fair across the country with only isolated thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains in the afternoon on the first day. A light easterly to northeasterly surface flow prevailed due to a pre-frontal trough that was located just east of the country. However, the cold front only reached as far as southern Yucatan on the second where the tail end dissipated. Showers were generally isolated and affected coastal areas in the morning and mountainous areas during the afternoon. From the 3rd to the 4th, weather conditions continued mostly fair except for isolated showers along with isolated thunderstorms over the mountains in the afternoon and over the Toledo district at night. Rain and thunderstorms affected Punta Gorda on the morning of the 5th supported by relatively moist and divergent conditions aloft. Elsewhere generally fair weather conditions prevailed. Moist and unstable conditions prevailed across the country from the 6th as a high pressure system behind a stationary front over the southern Gulf of Mexico induced a northeasterly and easterly to northeasterly airflow over the area. Skies were mostly cloudy with isolated showers over central areas on the 6th morning and isolated thunderstorms over the south and near the western border during the afternoon then several showers affected most areas overnight. The cloudiness persisted on the 7th and a few showers and thunderstorms affected inland areas in the morning and spread over most areas during the afternoon but were concentrated mainly over the south by nightfall. Skies remained cloudy on the 8th and 9th as showers and thunderstorms continued to affect the country but especially southern and coastal areas at night and during the morning then northern and inland areas during the afternoon and evening. The 10th saw a gradual decrease in moisture and instability with only isolated thunderstorms over the mountains, coastal Toledo and near San Pedro in the afternoon. Elsewhere only isolated showers developed. Mainly fair weather prevailed during the daytime on the 11th and only isolated showers developed over the northern half of the country including the airport overnight. A low pressure system was over the northwest Caribbean Sea with a weak surface trough near the coast of Belize. This feature was shallow and did not produce any significant weather across the country. From the 12th to the 14th a light easterly to southeasterly airflow supported mostly fair and warm conditions with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains. The main feature on the 15th was a low pressure system near the western tip of Cuba that showed a high potential for tropical cyclone development. However, weather conditions continued warm and mostly dry over the country with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains. The 16th afternoon saw the formation of the first tropical depression for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season off the central coast of Florida. Later that night the depression strengthened northeast of Florida and became Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the season. Meanwhile conditions remained generally fair and warm throughout the daytime of the 17th as a moderate easterly to southeasterly airflow dominated the country. However, overnight thunderstorm activity over the south resulted in close to an inch of rainfall in Placencia and almost two inches in Punta Gorda. The 18th started off fair and warm across the country but by afternoon a few thunderstorms developed mainly over northern and central coastal areas as a relatively moist northeasterly surface flow prevailed supported by moist and divergent upper level conditions. Showers and thunderstorms increased overnight and affected the entire country resulting in one to two inches of rainfall over northern and central areas. The 19th to the 21st saw mainly fair and warm weather except for isolated showers and thunderstorms over the mountains during the afternoons and over the south at night. Weather conditions continued fair and warm during the 22nd morning then intense thunderstorms developed along the northwestern and western border as well as over the Toledo district in the afternoon. This activity persisted and spread to northern and central areas during the night. Moisture decreased from the 23rd to the 25th even though a weak tropical wave crossed the country on the 24th. Isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains during the afternoons and over the north on the evening of the 24th then over the extreme south during the night of the 25th. Elsewhere hot and dry conditions prevailed during this period. Moisture increased slightly on the 26th as another tropical wave approached the country. Skies were cloudy in the morning with mostly layered clouds but only isolated thunderstorms occurred over the mountains in the afternoon. However showers and thunderstorms affected inland and northern areas the first part of the night then southern areas later that night with the activity continuing over the Stann Creek district through to the morning of the 27th. The tropical wave crossed the country before midday on the 27th with isolated showers and thunderstorms just south of Belize City in the morning and along the coast during the night. Cloudy conditions persisted over the country through to the 28th with isolated showers and thunderstorms affecting northern districts in the afternoon and the Toledo district during the night. The last few days of the month saw the development of a broad cyclonic gyre over the eastern Pacific that supported the advection of deep moisture into Central America. Weather conditions remained generally fair during the daytime on the 29th with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms that affected mainly the north and some central areas of the country. However, later that night intense thunderstorms and heavy persistent showers affected Belmopan and its surrounding areas as well as areas along the Hummingbird Highway as far south as Middlesex. This activity produced excessive rainfall that resulted in extreme flooding in Belmopan and along portions of the George Price Highway on the morning of the 30th. Tropical Depression Two formed over the eastern Pacific on the 30th afternoon and was projected to move northward and dissipate over southern Guatemala. The system continued to support moisture advection over the country resulting in cloudy conditions along with a few showers and thunderstorms especially over the south at first then showers and thunderstorms increased over central areas during the night. Tropical Depression Two-E was upgraded to Tropical Storm Amanda early on the morning of the 31st before making landfall in southern Guatemala where it quickly dissipated over the mountains. However, its remnants continued to track slowly northward resulting in cloudy to overcast skies across the country and heavy rains with severe thunderstorms especially over central and northern portions of the country. Flooding conditions were reported in some areas including Belize City and municipalities in the north. In summary two tropical waves crossed the country and two tropical cyclones formed outside the conventional June to November time period, namely Tropical Storm Arthur on May 16 and Tropical Storm Bertha on May 27. Tropical Depression Two-E/Tropical Storm Amanda that developed over the eastern Pacific basin dumped 12-13 inches of rain over the interior of the country at the end of May 2020. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of May 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was well above normal over most of the country with Belmopan receiving almost five times the normal amount of rainfall for May. Meanwhile rainfall was slightly below normal along the coast of the Stann Creek district. Both daytime (maximum) and nighttime (minimum) temperatures were above normal for most of the stations sampled with only Punta Gorda recording cooler than normal nighttime temperatures. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020may1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020may2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020may3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020may4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020may5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize The month of June marks the official beginning of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. In Belize it is also the first full month of the rainy season which usually starts around mid-May. June is climatologically the wettest month of the year at the airport and also at many of the weather stations across the country. Weather systems that typically produce rain during this month include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and very rarely tropical cyclones. June 2020 started off moist and unstable as the remnant low pressure system from Tropical Storm Amanda moved across Central America to the Bay of Campeche where it was upgraded to Tropical Depression number 3. As a result skies were cloudy on the 1st with a few showers and thunderstorms mainly over northern areas. Showers and thunderstorms increased overnight starting in the south then spread to central and northern areas on the 2nd as Tropical Depression number 3 became Tropical Storm Cristobal around midday. Skies remained mostly cloudy on the 3rd with isolated thunderstorms and rain over northern and along some coastal areas during the daytime but showers and thunderstorms increased over the north later that night. Tropical Storm Cristobal was downgraded to a depression over southern Mexico on the 4th and even though skies were cloudy rainfall was minimal. Showers and thunderstorms increased again that night and affected mostly northern and central areas. Libertad recorded 119.4 mm (4.7 inches) and Towerhill received 75.4 mm (2.97 inches) of rainfall while Belize City recorded 55.8 mm (2.2 inches) from 9am on the 4th up to 9am on the 5th. By midday on the 5th Tropical Depression Cristobal regained tropical storm strength a few miles southeast of Merida, Mexico. As a result conditions remained relatively moist from the 5th to the 6th as a broad area of low pressure associated with Tropical Storm Cristobal dominated the area. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated and occurred mainly inland and along northern coastal areas. Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall along the southeastern coast of Louisiana on the 7th evening while mainly fair and warm conditions prevailed over the country through to the 9th with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains. A weak tropical wave crossed over the country during the evening of 10th but did not produce any significant rainfall. A light and relatively moist easterly to northeasterly airflow prevailed over the area from the 11th to the 12th that supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over the north, coast and south. Relatively moist conditions continued to dominate the area on the 13th resulting in a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the Orange Walk and Toledo districts. Another tropical wave moved across the country during the afternoon of the 14th and supported the development of a line of showers and thunderstorms just inland from the coast, which moved further inland and persisted through to the evening. The activity continued on the 15th mostly over inland and southern areas in the afternoon and evening then north and along the coast overnight. A strong tropical wave approached early on the 16th which crossed the country later that day. Conditions became increasingly moist over the area along with an increase in divergence at the upper levels. Skies were cloudy to overcast and showers and thunderstorms affected northern and southern coastal areas on the 16th morning then most areas in the afternoon and mainly southern areas during the night. Moist and unstable conditions persisted over the area on the 17th resulting in thunderstorms, showers and periods of rain over central and offshore areas in the morning, northern and southern areas in the afternoon then most areas overnight. Rainfall records from 9am on the 17th through 9am on the 18th show that Hershey on the Hummingbird Highway recorded the most rainfall with a total of 295.6 mm (11.64 inches) while Savannah received 224.2 mm (8.8 inches), Middlesex village recorded 134.6 mm (5.30 inches) and Belmopan received 123.0 mm (4.84 inches) .As a result on the 18th morning, flooding was reported in several communities across the country but the floods were most damaging along the George Price Highway where a section was washed away that rendered the highway impassable, while a portion of the Southern Highway was submerged. Skies remained cloudy to overcast on the 18th but the activity gradually decreased as showers and thunderstorms affected mostly the north in the afternoon then a few showers and isolated thunderstorms occurred over central and southern areas later that night. A moderate but relatively dry easterly airflow dominated the country from the 19th to the 20th and supported generally fair weather, except for a few light showers over central inland areas during the 19th afternoon then isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms over coastal areas of the Toledo district during the night of the 20th. A fairly weak tropical wave crossed the country on the 21st and supported cloudy spells with isolated thunderstorms and showers mainly over northern inland areas during the daytime and over the south during the night. A moderate to gusty easterly airflow prevailed on the 22nd and another weak tropical wave moved across the country later that night with thunderstorms and showers only over the Toledo district. Elsewhere warm and windy conditions prevailed. Tropical Storm Dolly formed over the North Atlantic, south of Canada around midday on the 23rd. Meanwhile warm and windy conditions along with haze from the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) prevailed across much of the country and showers were generally isolated. Another weak wave traversed the area on the 24th afternoon but had little effect on the persistent hazy and dry conditions. A tight pressure gradient over the area maintained a moderate to gusty easterly airflow and the Saharan Air Layer continued to produce hazy conditions resulting in reduced visibility over some areas from the 25th to the 26th. Shower activity was minimal until the night of the 26th when yet another tropical wave approached and supported a few showers over southern and central areas. The wave crossed the country after midday on the 27th with only isolated showers mainly over central areas. Interaction between the tropical wave and an upper level trough on the 28th resulted in a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the south and east of the country in the morning then during the afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed over central and northern areas before increasing and spreading to most areas overnight. The last two days of the month saw a return to mainly fair conditions with a light to moderate easterly airflow as the Atlantic High Pressure system dominated the area. Isolated showers and thunderstorms occurred over the Stann Creek and Toledo districts on the night of the 29th and over southern Toledo and near Maskall village during the night of the 30th. In summary, two excessive rainfall events that led to flooding occurred in June 2020. The first was associated with Tropical Depression Cristobal on the 4th that resulted in floods in the northern districts while the second was due to a strong tropical wave that had upper level support from a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT) as it moved across the country on the 16th. The wave produced heavy showers and thunderstorms over most areas from the 16th to the 18th resulting in damaging floods over some areas in the west and south. A total of seven tropical waves crossed the country in June 2020. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of June 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal over the north but below normal for central and southern areas except for Central Farm in the Cayo district and Savannah in the Stann Creek district. Meanwhile rainfall was well below normal over the Toledo district. Maximum/daytime temperatures were above normal in the north, near normal over central areas and above normal for most of the south except for Savannah that had near normal high temperatures. Minimum/nighttime temperatures were above normal for most of the stations except for near normal temperatures at Towerhill and cooler than normal temperatures in Punta Gorda. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jun1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jun2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jun3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jun4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020jun5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, July 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize July, on average, is the second wettest month of the year for the country of Belize. Systems that affect the country during this month normally include tropical waves, tropical upper tropospheric troughs (TUTTs) and occasionally tropical cyclones. Relatively moist and unstable conditions prevailed at the beginning of July 2020 as a tropical wave approached on the 1st and crossed the country during the morning of the 2nd. Isolated showers and thunderstorms affected inland and some central areas during the daytime on the 1st then a few showers and thunderstorms occurred over most areas during the night and persisted through to the 2nd morning. The activity resumed later that night and continued on the 3rd especially over the Cayo and Orange Walk districts during the morning, then over the extreme south overnight. Conditions remained moist and unstable on the 4th as another tropical wave moved over the area and supported thunderstorm activity over the Belize district in the morning and over inland areas in the afternoon then over southern areas during the night. Generally fair conditions prevailed over most of the country from the 5th through to the 7th as the Atlantic High Pressure Ridge supported a moderate easterly to southeasterly surface flow. As a result, only isolated thunderstorms and isolated showers developed mainly over the Toledo district. A weak tropical wave crossed the country during the afternoon of the 8th but this did not produce any significant rainfall so conditions remained warm and mostly dry. Except for isolated afternoon thunderstorms and showers over the northwest part of the Orange Walk district on the 9th mainly fair, warm and dry conditions prevailed. Tropical Storm Fay formed near the eastern coast of the United States around mid-afternoon. A tropical wave crossed the country early on the 10th supporting a few showers inland during the daytime then showers and thunderstorms affected mostly the south later that night through to the early morning of the 11th. Both automatic weather stations in Punta Gorda recorded 4.5 inches of rainfall between midnight and 6 am on the 11th. Mainly fair weather prevailed the remainder of the 11th through to the 12th then another tropical wave moved across the country around midnight on the 13th supporting a few showers and thunderstorms over the south during the morning then the activity increased over the Toledo district during the night. Punta Gorda received 142.2 mm (5.59 inches) of rainfall that resulted in localized flooding on the 14th morning. Showers and thunderstorms remained mostly offshore during the morning of the 14th and affected the cayes then isolated thunderstorms and showers developed over inland and southern areas during the afternoon and night. A moderate easterly to northeasterly airflow prevailed on the 15th as a weak tropical wave crossed the country during the early morning hours. This wave did not generate any significant rainfall, so showers remained isolated from the 15th to the 16th. A tropical upper tropospheric trough (TUTT) supported an increase in upper level divergence and moisture on the 17th which resulted in relatively moist and unstable conditions over the area. Showers and thunderstorms affected mainly coastal and northern areas of the country during the daytime then mostly the Toledo district during the night. Moisture increased further on the 18th as a tropical wave approached and supported thunderstorms and periods of rain mainly along the coast and over southern districts in the morning then isolated thunderstorms developed over the Orange Walk and Cayo districts in the afternoon. Relatively dry conditions prevailed from the 19th to the 21st over much of the country. Showers and thunderstorms were isolated and occurred mostly inland during the afternoons and over the south during the nighttime hours. This was followed by a brief increase in moisture on the 22nd due to passage of a tropical wave coupled with favorable conditions at the upper levels. This supported the development of some showers and a few thunderstorms in the south during the night. Tropical Depression Eight formed over the Gulf of Mexico later that evening. The 23rd saw only isolated thunderstorms developing over northern and western portions of the country. Tropical Depression Eight strengthened into Tropical Storm Hanna. Mainly fair and warm conditions prevailed on the 24th even though another weak tropical wave moved over the area. Conditions remained generally fair and warm on the 25th with only isolated showers or thunderstorms inland during the afternoon time and over the south at night. Another weak tropical wave crossed over the area late on the 26th and supported a few showers and thunderstorms mostly over southern Belize. The weather stations in Punta Gorda recorded 15.0 mm (0.59 inches) and 13.2 mm (0.52 inches) of rainfall. A fresh to gusty easterly airflow prevailed on the 27th and supported mainly fair and warm conditions across the country. Except for isolated thunderstorms over the Maya mountains and isolated showers over central areas, rainfall activity was minimal. Similar weather prevailed on the 28th except for isolated thunderstorms over the Orange Walk district during the evening. Another tropical wave crossed the country during the early morning hours of the 29th supporting an increase in moisture and instability resulting in a few showers and thunderstorms over the south at first then especially over the northern districts in the afternoon. The activity persisted throughout the night and into the morning of the 30th mainly over southern and central areas of the country then spreading to northern areas during the afternoon. The last tropical wave for the month of July 2020 moved across the country during the early morning of the 31st with no significant convective activity as generally fair weather prevailed across the country with only isolated showers and an isolated afternoon thunderstorm along the southwest border. Twelve tropical waves crossed the country in July 2020, these were mostly weak and as a result rainfall was well below normal across the country. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of July 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for the entire country during the month. In terms of maximum/daytime temperatures, all of the stations show daytime temperatures were warmer than normal during July 2020. Minimum/nighttime temperatures were near normal at Towerhill in the north and at Savannah in southern Stann Creek, and above normal over the rest of the country, except for Central Farm and Punta Gorda where nighttime temperatures were slightly cooler than normal for the month. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020july1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020july2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020july3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020july4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020july5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize Climatologically speaking, August is known for its two weeks dry spell known locally as the "maga season". As a result, a marked drop in rainfall can be seen around August when looking at the annual rainfall distribution for the country. Weather systems that typically affect Belize during the month of August are Tropical Waves (TWs), Tropical Upper Tropospheric Troughs (TUTTs) and an occasional Tropical Cyclone (TCs) (tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane). The first day of August 2020 started off mostly dry with showers and thunderstorms being generally isolated and confined to the south. Generally fair weather persisted from the 2nd through to the 4th of the month with only isolated showers and thunderstorms over northern and inland areas during the afternoons and over the south at nights. A tropical wave approached the area on the 5th and supported an increase in moisture which resulted in a few showers and thunderstorms over southern areas in the morning then mostly northern and central areas in the afternoon. The activity decreased and then resumed overnight mainly along the coast and over the north. The tropical wave crossed the country on the 6th morning and maintained relatively moist conditions. This resulted in a few showers and thunderstorms affecting central and northern districts in the morning with the activity increasing over central inland areas during the night. By the 7th the moisture gradually decreased but a few showers and isolated thunderstorms lingered over the area. A gusty easterly airflow prevailed on the 8th and showers and thunderstorms affected central and northern areas in the morning then the activity decreased during the afternoon. The second tropical wave for August 2020 approached the country on the 9th and moved across the country during the evening of the 10th. The approach of this wave supported an increase in moisture resulting in some showers, thunderstorms and periods of rain mainly over the Belize district and over inland areas in the afternoon then over the Toledo district during the night. Conditions continued cloudy on the 10th but showers and thunderstorms gradually decreased during the day then redeveloped and affected most areas overnight. Mainly fair weather prevailed over the area from the 11th to the 12th with the exception of the Toledo district at nighttime where a few showers and thunderstorms developed. A weak tropical wave crossed the country on the 13th and supported early morning isolated showers over the Toledo district and along the coast then the activity shifted to the interior by midday. Relatively dry conditions prevailed from the 14th to the 16th with slightly more activity over southern areas in the nighttime and over inland areas during the afternoon hours. Another weak tropical wave moved across the country early on the 15th. A relatively moist easterly to northeasterly airflow prevailed on the 17th which supported cloudy conditions along with showers and thunderstorms over central areas after mid-morning then over inland areas in the afternoon. Overnight a further increase in moisture supported the development of some showers and a few thunderstorms across the country that persisted through to the 18th morning with the activity becoming generally isolated during the afternoon. Generally fair conditions dominated most of the country on the 19th except for isolated afternoon thunderstorms that developed over the Orange Walk and Cayo districts. The 20th morning saw the development of Tropical Depression Fourteen over the west-central Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour. A light easterly to southeasterly flow prevailed over the country and weather conditions were mostly fair except for isolated thunderstorms that developed over the mountains in the afternoon and over the Toledo district during the night. Tropical Depression Fourteen was about 240 miles east of Corozal Town on the 21st but mainly fair weather prevailed on the mainland and isolated thunderstorms remained mostly offshore. Another weak tropical wave crossed the country on the 22nd resulting in isolated thunderstorms and showers over the Belize district in the morning then over northern districts and the mountains in the afternoon as well as over the Toledo district overnight. Slightly moist conditions and an easterly airflow prevailed from the 23rd to the 24th with only isolated thunderstorm and shower activity. Mainly fair and warm weather prevailed across the country from the 25th to the 26th as a light easterly to southeasterly flow dominated the area. Showers and thunderstorms continued isolated and developed primarily over the mountains during the afternoon time and over the Toledo district at night time. A weak tropical wave passed south of the country on the 25th. A relatively dry easterly to southeasterly airflow dominated most of the country from the 26th to the end of the month. During this period a tropical wave crossed on the 27th afternoon but this system was weak and produced only isolated showers and thunderstorms over the Corozal and Cayo districts in the afternoon then over the Toledo district overnight. The last tropical wave for the month crossed early on the morning of the 30th but was also very weak and inactive with only isolated showers and thunderstorms confined to the Toledo district. Several tropical waves crossed the country in August 2020 but they were mostly weak and did not produce significant amounts of rainfall. As a result rainfall was below normal for most of the country except for inland areas. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of August 2020. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal only in the Cayo district while the remainder of the country received significantly lower than average rainfall. In terms of maximum/daytime temperatures, all of the stations sampled show that daytime temperatures were warmer than normal during August 2020. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were warmer than normal, except for Punta Gorda where nighttime temperatures were slightly cooler than normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020aug1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020aug2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020aug3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: August 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020aug4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: August 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020aug5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize September is typically a wet month for the country of Belize. It also coincides with the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season and a significant amount of the historical tropical cyclones that have affected the country occurred during the month of September. Apart from tropical cyclones, other systems that typically affect Belize during the month of September include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Troposheric Troughs (TUTTs) and at times cold fronts and frontal shear lines affect the country as early as September. The morning of September first 2020 saw the development of Tropical Storm Nana over the central Caribbean Sea, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph. Tropical Storm Nana was moving west at 18mph and was projected to make landfall on Belize, prompting a tropical storm watch for the entire coastline of the country. In the evening, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a hurricane watch as the official forecast from the National Hurricane Center was for the system to become a hurricane before making landfall. However, mainly fair and warm weather prevailed over most areas on that day. At 9am on the second of September a hurricane warning was issued from Belize City to the southern border as the projection was for a category 1 hurricane to make landfall near southern Belize within 24 hours. Tropical Storm Nana had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and continued to track westward at 17 mph. Isolated thunderstorms and showers started to affect northern districts in the afternoon then coastal areas by early evening. At 6pm Tropical Storm Nana was about 100 miles east-southeast of Belize City and at 9pm, was about 48 miles east of Dangriga Town and about 60 miles southeast of Belize City. At that time Nana was upgraded to a hurricane as maximum sustained winds had increased to near 75 mph. In Belize City, winds were gusting to near tropical storm force strength and the projected area for landfall was south of Dangriga, and near to Hopkins village in the Stann Creek District. Hurricane Nana made landfall around 11:45pm in this general area. Some reports suggest hurricane force winds occurred in the Hopkins area and a weather station at Carrie Bow Caye, reported sustained winds of 61mph with gust of up to 75 mph. Hurricane Nana weakened to a tropical storm soon after landfall, with gusty winds impacting mostly inland areas and heavy rainfall mainly over the Toledo district. Later that morning of the 3rd the storm was further downgraded to a tropical depression over the southwest portion of the country. Winds had decreased but heavy rainfall continued to affect the Toledo district. The approach of a tropical wave on the 4th led to an increase in moisture resulting in a few showers and thunderstorms around the country that continued on the 5th during the passage of the wave. Showers and thunderstorms increased on the night of the 5th through to the early morning of the 6th with the activity gradually decreasing during the day. A slack pressure pattern dominated across the area from the 7th through to the 11th and conditions were relatively moist. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated during the period except for a few showers and thunderstorms that affected most areas during the night of the 9th. The second tropical wave for the month crossed the country around midnight on the 12th and supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over the Orange Walk district and over southern coastal areas with only isolated activity later that morning. Conditions continued relatively moist on the 13th supporting a few showers and isolated thunderstorms inland, north and south in the afternoon. Moisture decreased over the area from the 14th to the 20th and a slack pressure gradient maintained light and variable winds. Warm and mostly fair weather prevailed from the 14th to the 17th with only isolated thunderstorms and isolated showers inland in the afternoons and over the Toledo district at nights. A warning for severe thunderstorms was issued after mid-morning on the 18th as strong thunderstorms affected most areas of the country except the Toledo district. This warning was discontinued by early evening as only isolated thunderstorms and isolated showers developed along the coast and over the south during the latter part of the evening. Conditions continued warm and mostly fair with only isolated activity on the 19th and 20th. Generally fair conditions prevailed across the country from the 21st through to the 24th. Showers and thunderstorms were generally isolated with a few more along with isolated thunderstorms at nights over the Toledo district. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms occurred mostly over northern and coastal areas on the 25th as a low center dominated the country. The 26th to the 28th saw a return to mostly dry conditions during the daytime with only isolated thunderstorm activity over the mountains in the afternoon and over southern districts during the night time. The last two days of the month were relatively moist as a pre-frontal trough over the Yucatan Peninsula supported a light easterly to northeasterly airflow over the area. Showers and thunderstorms affected mostly northern and central areas on the 29th then spread to other areas of the country on the 30th. In summary, on September 2nd the country experienced its first hurricane landfall for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, namely Hurricane Nana. The strongest winds occurred north of the storm's center and the heaviest rainfall occurred south of the center in Corazon village, Toledo district where 144mm (5.7inches) was recorded. Although the country received some rainfall associated with Hurricane Nana and the passage of two tropical waves, the total rainfall recorded for September 2020 was mostly below normal. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal for most of the country except for Towerhill in the Orange Walk district that recorded slightly above normal rainfall. In terms of maximum temperatures all of the stations sampled show higher than average maximum/daytime temperatures while minimum/nighttime temperatures were above normal for all the stations except for Towerhill in the north and Punta Gorda in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020sep1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020sep2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020sep3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: September 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020sep4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: September 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020sep5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize October is typically a wet month for the country of Belize, signaling the secondary peak of the rainy season over most areas and coinciding with the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. The second largest amount of historical tropical cyclones have also affected the country during the month of October. Additionally, other systems such as tropical waves, Upper Level Troughs (UTLs), Surface Troughs (SfTs) and occasional early season cold fronts and frontal shear lines influences the month of October's rainfall. Being in the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season, the month of October started off rather active with the developement of two tropical depressions (#25 and #26) that would later develop into Tropical Storm Gamma and Hurricane Delta, respectively, within the first week of the month. Conditions over Belize were moist and unstable during the 1st to the 3rd due to the development of a broad area of low pressure over the western Caribbean sea, an inverted trough east of the country, and tropical depression 25 east of Belize, enhacing a divergent upper level pattern over the area, supporting the development of showers and thunderstorms over the country. These showers and thunderstorms gradually decreased on the 3rd into the 4th with most activity occuring over offshore areas and the northern districts that were being supported by a stationary front over the Yucatan Peninsula. Lingering moisture over the area supported cloudy skies with mostly layered clouds and no significant rainfall activity. The proximity of these tropical systems resulted in a light westerly surface flow across the country which later became strong and gusty due to the approach of hurricane Delta that had formed to the south-southwest of Jamaica on October 6th. A feeder band from hurricane Delta resulted in moderate to heavy rainfall over the northern and some central portions of the country late night on Octover 6th into early morning on the 7th with the highest rainfall amount being recorded at the Tower Hill Station. Hurricane Delta quickly moved on a northwesterly path and by October 8th, was over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Louisiana, United States. An Upper Level Cyclone along with a Northeasterly to Southwesterly oriented Upper Level TUTT overnight thunderstorms concentrated over the southern districts started over the Toledo district and progressing northward late night on Octover 8th into early morning on 9th October with the Punta Gorda station recording 80mm of rinfall. Drier conditions prevailed from the 9th though to the 14th in week two over most areas with only isolated showers or thunderstorms developing. This was supported by a dry east to southerly suface flow and over the area. The upper level pattern throughout the period was primarliy neutral coupled with a relatively dry mid-upper levels. The wet spots during this period occured in the southern parts of the country around the 12 to 14 October as a result of an approaching tropical wave which was east of Belize and a moist northeasterly airflow due to troughing over the area. This tropical wave enhanced shower and thunderstorm activity in the south leading to 68.7mm of rainfall in Melinda on the 12th and 119.7mm of rainfall in Savannah on October 13. A moist northeasterly surface flow prevailed over the area along with an upper level trough, producing a southwesterly upper level flow and divergent conditions across the country from Octover 14 to 18 October. The increase in moisture and instability led to the development of a few showers and thunderstorms around the country, especially over central and southern areas. A second tropical wave crossed the country on October 19 leading to a few showers and thunderstorms over most areas of the country, decreasing to light periods of rain on the 20th. Moist conditions persisted in the latter quater of the month as a broad area of low pressure developed over the west-central Caribbean that progressed westward towards the country on the 21st and 22nd, however, this system supported only brief and isolated showers. A west to southwesterly surface flow prevailed over the area supporting keeping most of the showery activity offshore associated with the braod low. During the 22nd-23, this system has a low chance of developing into a tropical cylone as it moved slowly north or northwestward. On October 24, however, the system started to become better organized and had a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. This system supported some showers over most areas of the country. The surface flow had shifted to a more east to northeasterly flow and dry conditions prevailed at the upper levels with a neutral pattern, except for over the extreme south of the country. By the early morning on the 25th, the broad low had developed into tropical storm Zeta which formed over the NW Caribbean and Zeta continues to rapidly streghten as developed into a hurricane late on the night of 26 October. Between October 27 to October 28, skies were cloudy over the area due to lingering moisture from Hurricane Zeta but shower and thunderstorm activity over the country were minimal, except for over the south. The month ended with pre-frontal activiy over the area due to an approaching cold front over the Yucatan Peninsula which supported some showers and periods of rain along with severe thundestorms over the south late night on the 28th into early morning on the 29th, resulting in the Punta Gorda station recording 109mm of rainfall. Rainfall gradually decreased over the south October 30 to 31 and isolated showers and thunderstorms were recorded elsewhere. Additionally, Tropical Depression 29 formed over the Central Caribbean Sea. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal over the northern and southern districts with normal to below normal rainfall recorded over the remainder of the country. In terms of maximum temperatures, the stations sampled show near normal to slightly above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/nighttime temperatures were above normal for all the stations except for Punta Gorda in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020oct1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020oct2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020oct3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020oct4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020oct5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, November 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize November marks the end of the Atlantic Basin hurricane season and the start of the cool transition into the dry season for Belize. By this time, rainfall across the country associated with tropical cyclones and waves typically begin to decrease. During this month, the systems that contribute to the monthly rainfall are Upper Level Troughs (UTLs), Surface Troughs (SfTs), and the increase of frontal systems such as cold and stationary fronts. November 2020 started off moist and unstable due to the development from Tropical Storm Eta which formed east of the Nicaragua/Honduras border. A moist northeasterly surface airflow prevailed, advecting moisture over mainland Belize. This resulted in increased cloudiness and the development of moderate to heavy rainfall particularly in the central regions of the country on the afternoon of November 1. As Eta approached the coast of Nicaragua on November 2, it rapidly intensified and became a major category 4 hurricane tracking on a west to west- southerly path. The pressure gradient tightened over the area leading to a moderate to occasionally gusty north to northwesterly surface flow between November 2 and 3. Conditions became very moist in the low through to the upper levels in a neutral to weakly divergent environment and supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly offshore the coast of Belize and beyond the barrier reef. Numerous showers, periods of rain and a few thunderstorms developed and persisted across the country on November 4 as hurricane Eta moved inland over Central America. This activity persisted and peaked on November 5 especially over the Maya mountains, Central and Coastal Belize as Tropical Depression Eta re-emerged in the Gulf of Honduras and paralleled the coast of Belize moving towards the Northeast and away from the country on November 6 towards Cayman Island and Western Cuba. The Baldy Beacon station in the Mountain Pine Ridge area observed over 20 inches of rainfall of the 10 to 20 inches forecasted to affect the country, while Central Coastal and offshore areas such as Gales Point, the airport station and San Pedro observed over 15 inches between November 1 to 6. The northern portions recorded at least 5 inches of rainfall. Major flooding occurred as a result of this system, especially in the Cayo and Belize districts damaging homes, roads and other infrastructure. By late night November 6 through to November 7, only isolated showers were observed across the country as conditions became less moist and unstable over the area with Eta, now re-strengthened to a Tropical Storm Eta moved further away from Belize, despite a polar trough being located east of Belize associated with a low pressure system near Cuba southwestward into the Gulf of Honduras. After the passage of Eta, a gradual decrease in moisture and instability occurred supporting the development of only isolated showers. Mainly fair and dry conditions prevailed in week 2 between November 8 to 13 due to a broad circulation from Tropical Storm Eta and a slack pressure gradient which supported a light west to south westerly surface flow across Belize. During this period, the upper level pattern was neutral to weakly convergent due to a high-pressure ridge over the Caribbean basin and a north and northeasterly upper level wind component. By November 13 a tropical wave which was showing signs of development over the Central Caribbean developed into Tropical Depression 31 then later into Tropical Storm Iota that same day. Over Belize, the surface flow was a light northwesterly flow which veered to the northeast. Generally fair weather prevailed at first on the 13th before the development of a few showers and periods of rain over the northern districts and the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. Low level moisture increased over Belize on November 14 with a trough over the northwest Caribbean supporting an increase in cloudiness with layered and stratified clouds that supported consistent rain over central coastal areas but only isolated showers and thunderstorms elsewhere with significant deep convection inhibited by dry and convergent upper levels over the area. The third week of November saw another increase in rainfall activity across Belize as the country's rainfall began to be influenced by the development of Tropical Storm Iota over the southern Caribbean Sea. TS Iota moved in a west to southwesterly direction towards the Nicaragua/Honduras border on November 15 and light northeasterly surface flow prevailed with a slack pressure gradient and a ridging, dry and convergent pattern at the upper levels with only isolated showers over the northern districts. As Iota approached Nicaragua/Honduras as a category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph on November 16, the pressure gradient tightened over Belize supporting a gusty north and northeasterly surface flow in a moist and unstable environment, however, shower activity remained isolated and concentrated mostly over offshore and southern areas. This changed on November 17 with skies becoming cloudy to overcast across the country and by late afternoon, the rains from Iota had begun affecting most areas. By November 18, Iota became a remnant low as it moved inland over Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador and rainfall from the system peaked over Belize across most stations. During this week, rainfall persisted though to the 21st as a trough over the northwest Caribbean and a tropical wave that approached and crossed the country on November 21 continued to support heavy continuous rain and frequent showers around the country, especially over northern central and offshore locations. The showers and rain with only isolated thunderstorms were further enhanced by a strong northerly swell, a moist and divergent upper level pattern due to an upper level trough over the area and a south to southeasterly upper level flow. Maximum accumulated rainfall during the November 16 to 20 period ranged from 8 to 12 inches over central and northern areas. The last week of November was dominated by a ridging pattern at the mid to upper levels supporting a southwesterly upper level wind component and a relatively dry and neutral upper level pattern. Most of the moisture over the area was capped below 700 hPa supporting only shallow convection and cloudy spells between November 22 to 27. Some of this low level moisture being advected over the country was due to early season cold fronts north of the area over the southern Gulf of Mexico and a slight east to northeast surface flow. Showery activity was mostly isolated with periods of rain affecting northern, central and inland areas. The month ended off mainly fair and dry with a neutral upper level pattern and an anticyclone over the country supporting a south-southeasterly component and only a few light periods of rain in the early mornings over the north. On November 30, an approaching cold front over the Yucatan Peninsula seen on satellite imagery, extending just north of the country supported a patch of stratocumulus clouds and towering cumulus over southern Belize leading to a line of deep convection producing periods of rain and a few thunderstorms over the south. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal over the entire country due to the indirect impacts of tropical cyclones Eta and Iota as well as an active tropical wave. In terms of temperatures, the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/nighttime temperatures were above normal for all the stations except for Punta Gorda in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020nov1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020nov2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020nov3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: November 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020nov4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: November 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020nov5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2020National Meteorological Service of Belize December falls in the cool transition period of the dry season for Belize. Rainfall during the month is normally attributed to the passage of cold and stationary frontal systems that progresses southward from the continental United States and upper and surface troughs. Typically, a frontal system crosses Belize every 10 days but December 2020 saw an average of one front per week. In the first week of December, residual low-level moisture from the approach a cold front at the end of November that had crossed the country and became stationary over the northwest Caribbean, supporting light to moderate rain over the country between December 1 to 3. Moderate to heavy showers occurred over the Belize district and offshore areas. During this period, a light to moderate east to northeasterly surface flow prevailed, advecting low level moisture over the area. At the upper levels, however, conditions were relatively dry and convergent and an upper level jet with a ridging pattern was observed, supporting a west to southwesterly upper level wind component. Low level moisture persisted through to the end of the first week with an increase in upper level moisture over the area. The upper level pattern became weakly divergent as a broad ridge persisted over the region. No significant showery activity was observed on December 4 and 5, except for isolated showers or isolated thunderstorms over the central, southern, and mountainous areas. Early morning fog and a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over central coastal and offshore areas from a pre-frontal trough over the NW Caribbean on December 6, preceded the approach of a cold front over the northern Yucatan. The cold front crossed the country late evening on December 7, producing isolated showers over southern and offshore areas at first, increasing to a few and spreading over most areas by the afternoon. Surface winds veered to a north to northwesterly component. The passage of the cold front and the building of a strong ridge behind it, led to mainly fair and cool weather across Belize as drier conditions began to set in from December 8 to 14. Little to no rainfall was observed across the country with only periods of light rain over southern areas due to shallow low-level moisture, as the front backed and dissipated over the northwest Caribbean. A moderate north and northwesterly surface flow prevailed, with a west to southwesterly component at the upper levels, supported by an upper level ridge over the western Caribbean. The ridge pattern over the area resulted in a very dry and convergent upper levels, suppressing any significant rainfall activity. The surface ridge began to weaken on December 13 and 14 resulting in a light east to northeasterly flow. Dry conditions continued into the third week as a ridge over the country dominated the weather and a slack pressure gradient produced a light east and northeasterly surface flow. Only isolated showers were observed, mostly over the south country through to December 17 in a neutral environment. By December 18, moisture levels over the area had increased slightly as another cold front approached the area, extending from central Cuba to the southwest, over northern Belize. This frontal system supported a few showers and periods of light rain mainly over coastal and southern areas. Another fast-moving cold front moved into the Gulf of Mexico and became stationary over the Yucatan by December 21 supporting a moist northeasterly flow, causing an increase moisture over the area with the upper levels becoming relatively moist. This produced showers and rain across the country, particularly in central and southern locations. Ridging at the upper levels over the western and northern Caribbean supported a generally strong west to northwest component and a neutral pattern across Belize. Mainly fair and dry weather conditions prevailed to start the week of December 22 with a ridge pattern being the main feather influencing our weather. This led to only brief isolated showers across Belize with a light easterly surface flow, while the upper levels continued dry and neutral with a west to northwesterly flow. On December 25, a swift moving cold front crossed the country and extended over central Honduras with Belizeans waking up to a cool and cloudy to overcast Christmas morning with periods of light rain and a moderate and occasionally gusty north and northwesterly airflow. Cool and variably cloudy conditions prevailed through to December 27, supported by a northwesterly surface flow from a high pressure ridge over the area behind the front. By December 28, a low-level trough over the northwestern Caribbean behind the front that had become stationary, supported a slight increase in low level moisture over Belize, producing moderate showers and periods of rain mainly over central, northern, and offshore areas that lasted until December 29. The surface winds became light to moderate from the northeast, advecting moisture from over the NW Caribbean, over Belize. The month ended relatively dry as a ridge pattern dominated the west and northwest Caribbean producing an east to southeasterly airflow over the area. At the upper levels, an anti-cyclone supported a southwesterly wind component further enhancing the dry conditions across Belize. As a result, fair and dry conditioned prevailed with little or no rainfall observed. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal over the northern and some southeastern portions of the country due to the passage of four cold fronts across the country, which later backed and became stationary just offshore Belize. Below normal rainfall was also observed over some central inland and the southern areas of the country, while rainfall was near normal elsewhere. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show below normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/nighttime temperatures were near normal for all the stations except for Central Farm in the West and Punta Gorda in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020dec1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020dec2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020dec3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: December 2020 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020dec4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: December 2020 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2020dec5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize January is climatologically the coolest month of the year and falls at the middle of the cool transition period of the dry season for Belize. Rainfall during the month is normally attributed to the passage of frontal systems that progresses southward from the continental United States and upper and surface troughs. Typically, an average of twelve cold fronts, two stationary fronts and one warm front would crosses Belize for the month but in January 2021, an average of one front every 14 days crossed the country, with a few weak fronts passing north of the area. The first week in the month started off relatively dry due to limited low and upper level moisture, supported by a strong high pressure ridge, extending into the Caribbean basin from the Bermuda high. This pattern suppressed rainfall activity over Belize between January 1 and 2 and 6 and 7, resulting in generally isolated showers across the country, despite a divergent upper level pattern. The slightly moist period was between January 3 to 5 as a result of the approach of a frontal system that saw a slight increase in low level moisture over the area supporting isolated showers and thunderstorms, mostly over inland areas. Little to no rainfall was observed elsewhere with a predominantly east to south-easterly low level airflow which became east to north-easterly as the front approached and passed north of the country. A persistent upper level anti-cyclone supported a south-westerly wind component in the upper levels. On January 8, in the second week, a strong, fast moving front approached and crossed the country before becoming stationary over the Gulf of Honduras, with a strong ridge building behind the front and persisting over the north-west Caribbean. The passage of the front led to a cool, dry and light north and north-westerly airflow though to January 14. Upper level conditions continue to be relatively dry with a south-west wind component during this week and an anticyclone as the main upper level feature. Neutral conditions prevailed during the period, inhibiting any significant convection over the area with only isolated thunderstorms developing over inland areas during the passage of the front. Low level moisture increased further between January 11 and 14 due to the presence of a surface trough over the country. This surface trough supported an increase in cloudiness, a few showers and periods of light rain in the latter part of the week. A dry period followed in the third week, with no significant rainfall activity reported and a few cloudy spells between January 15 and 18. Most of the moisture continued to be concentrated in the low levels as a stationary front passed north of the country on January 16. On January 18, however, moisture over the area began to increase in both the low and upper levels due to a moisture north-easterly surface airflow, supported by a another stationary front over the Yucatan Peninsula. This increase in moisture supported cloudy to overcast skies across the country with multilayered clouds producing periods of rain over most areas through to the 20th before becoming isolated. A neutral to weakly convergent upper level pattern was observed during the period, thus no significant deep convection was noted, coupled with a light and variable upper level wind component. At the end of the week, a drying out of the upper levels was observed and only isolated showers was noted over southern districts. Conditions became even drier over the area in the last week, with little to no moisture available for rainfall or cloud development. This decrease in moisture lasted until January 28 as a result of a strong Bermuda high pressure ridge extending into the Caribbean and over the north-west Caribbean. The pressure gradient over the area was tight due to a low pressure system over Columbia interacting with the Bermuda high pressure ridge. Over Belize, the tight gradient supported a moderate to occasionally gusty east to southeast surface airflow. A ridge pattern was also analyzed at the upper levels supporting a south-westerly component between January 22-28 before veering and becoming north-westerly to zonal in a neutral to weakly divergent environment. Weather conditions during this week was fair and relatively dry with only isolated showers being observed up until January 27, then a few showers and periods of rain affected most areas on January 28, with cloudy spells and periods of light rain persisting through to January 30. Fair and dry conditions returned to end the month on January 31. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal over the northern and some central locations of the country due to the passage of one strong cold fronts across the country and the approach of several other frontal systems that passed north of the area and a surface strong that persisted over the area in the third week. Below normal rainfall was also observed over the southern areas of the country. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show below slightly above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/nighttime temperatures were above normal for all the stations except for Punta Gorda in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jan1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jan2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jan3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize February marks the end of the dry transition period of the dry season for Belize. Climatologically, this month typically experiences the second highest number of cold fronts with a total of 8. Rainfall during the month is normally attributed to the passage of frontal systems that progresses southward from the continental United States, and upper and surface troughs. An average of eight cold fronts, one stationary front, one surface trough and two upper level troughs would cross Belize for the month but in February 2021, only two cold fronts with three surface troughs, three surface lows and one stationary front crossed the country. Several other frontal systems passed north of the area. The first week in the month was relatively dry due to limited low and upper level moisture, supported by a high pressure ridge over the North Atlantic, extending into the central Caribbean basin. A cold front approached the country on February 1, crossing on February 2 with a deep upper level trough digging to the surface. This system did not produce significant convection through its passage due to limited upper level support and available moisture with only isolated showers and light rain observed over central and southern areas. Cool and variably cloudy conditions prevailed on February 3 with minimum temperatures falling significantly across the country, especially over northern and inland areas., however, no records were broken. A deep upper level trough was associated with this frontal system and persisted over the western Caribbean through to February 3, supporting a west to north-westerly wind component over Belize with an upper level ridge observed over the area on February 6. On February 7, an upper level jet over Belize supported a west to south-westerly flow. In the low levels, ridging prevailed February 3 to 6 with a surface low pressure system analyzed over the area on February 7. Surface winds were north to north-westerly February 1-3 becoming east to northeast on February 5, before a light to moderate south-easterly flow set in on February 6 and 7. The ending of the week saw little to no rainfall observed over the area, except for an isolated thunderstorm developing over the Maya mountains on February 7. Dry conditions continued into week two due to continued dominance of the high pressure ridge over the Caribbean basin. Rainfall during this period was mostly isolated and conditions favoured fair and warm weather over the country. The upper levels were also very dry with a neutral pattern observed, supported mainly by a broad upper level ridge February 8 to 10, resulting in a west to south-westerly component. A slight trough pattern developed over the western Caribbean sea on February 10 supporting a north to north-westerly flow at the upper levels, then a ridging pattern continued through to the end of week two. The main surface feature during the period was a stationary front north of the area, supporting a north-easterly surface flow on February 8, then a predominantly east to southerly flow prevailed February 9 through 14 supported by ridging over the area, with the exception of February 13 where another stationary front supported a north-westerly surface flow. To the east of Belize, a surface trough was analysed and persisted over the north-west Caribbean, however, only isolated showers or thunderstorms were observed. Moisture continued minimal across the country in week three with only isolated pockets observed over the mid to upper levels and a neutral to weakly divergent pattern was observed throughout the period. A polar trough was observed over the area February 15-17 yielding a west to south-westerly upper level wind component, followed by a more south-westerly flow February 18 to 21 as a result of an anticyclone. In the low levels, conditions also continued relatively dry with only isolated showers, if any. A slight increase in moisture occurred on February 18 leading to the development of a few afternoon thunderstorms over the mountain range that dissipated by night-fall. The approach of a cold front on February 19 supported the development of isolated showers over northern, central and inland areas. The front crossed the country on the evening of February 20 with skies becoming cloudy to overcast and periods of light rain and brief showers affected most areas. This front left a deep trough over the area, extending down to the surface and later became stationary over the north-west Caribbean. Cool conditions prevailed across the country up to February 21. This front stalled and became stationary with moisture persisting into week four, concentrated mostly in the low levels until February 24. Skies were mostly clear at night-time with early morning fog reported on February 22 and 23. Thereafter, a surface trough over the area supported an east to north-easterly flow and isolated showers. Drier conditions began settling in towards the end of the month as the Bermuda high built and extended into the Caribbean and over Belize. Moderate to gusty east to south-east surface airflow prevailed through to the end of the month as a result of a tight pressure gradient over the area. The dry conditions and neutral to convergent pattern at the upper levels further suppressed any significant convection with fair and windy conditions ending off the overall, dry month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was below normal over most areas of the country, except for some parts of the Corozal and Belize districts due to the passage of the two cold strong cold fronts that crossed the country and the approach of several other frontal systems that passed north of the area, where above normal rainfall was observed. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show below near normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/nighttime temperatures were also near normal for all the stations except for Central farm in the west and Punta Gorda station in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021feb1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021feb2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021feb3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: February 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021feb4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: February 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021feb5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize The warm dry period of the dry season typically begins in March for Belize. Climatologically, this month marks the onset of windy south-easterlies and more stable conditions due to the influence of high pressure systems. Rainfall during the month is normally attributed to the passage of frontal systems that progresses southward from the continental United States, surface troughs and an increase in upper level troughs. An average of six cold fronts, one stationary front, one warm front, three surface troughs and 9 upper level troughs would cross Belize for the month but in March 2021, only four frontal systems passing north of the area and one surface trough over the Yucatan to the Northwest of Belize. The Bermuda high pressure system dominated our weather during the first week of March. A light east to south-easterly airflow prevailed near the surface due to ridging over the area. This also led to dry conditions over the country that saw fair weather prevailing with little to no rainfall during this week due to brief and light passing showers. The dryness was further enhanced by an anticyclone over the southern Gulf of Mexico resulting in very dry upper levels, producing a west to south-westerly upper level flow in addition to a neutral to convergent pattern being observed. Despite having a few frontal systems passing just north of the area, these had little impacts on our weather. Conditions shifted in week two with an increase in low level moisture and shower activity across the country from March 8 to 12 as a result of a cold front that became stationary over northern Honduras. Surface winds backed to a moderate and occasionally gusty east to north-easterly flow as the strong Bermuda high continued to build over the northwest Caribbean advecting moisture from over the northwest Caribbean. However, moisture levels remained low and very dry in the upper levels. The anticyclone persisted at the upper levels spanning the Caribbean Basin supporting a west to south-westerly flow through to March 12 before becoming more north-westerly as the ridge shifted and progressed to the east and an Upper Level TUTT prevailed over the western north Atlantic and the central Caribbean. Isolated showers were observed over northern portions of the country during this period while central and southern locations received the bulk of rainfall from the moist east to north-easterly flow. This increase in moisture also lead to an increase in low level cloud cover with mostly cumuliform and layered clouds. Towards the end of week two, ridging became the dominant feature over Belize and the wider Caribbean with fairer conditions returning and only isolated showers observed over the mountainous areas. Fair conditions persisted into week three as the high pressure ridge continued to support a moderate, gusty and dry east to southerly surface flow. For the most part, the weather was mainly fair, warm and mostly dry across the country through to March 18, except for the development over an isolated afternoon thunderstorm over southern areas on the 18th. An upper level ridge west of the area resulted in a west to south-westerly flow over Belize while a TUTT extended from the Northeast to South-western Caribbean. The upper level moisture continue low over our area with a prevailing neutral to weakly convergent pattern providing little upper level support for the development of any significant convection. A surge of moisture induced by a cold front extending from the Yucatan Peninsula to western Cuba along with a surface trough over the eastern Yucatan, affected the country March 19 to 21. As a result, a moist north to north-easterly airflow prevailed and was enhanced by a digging upper level trough over the Bay of Campeche producing a southwester upper level flow, supporting the development of a few early morning showers over central and southern areas, moving inland in the afternoon on March 19. The shower then became isolated by March 20 and 21 affecting mainly offshore and southern coastal areas. Warm and dry conditions dominated the country in the last week of the month as the high pressure ridge dominated the region and seasonably warm and dry conditions began to set in. A moderate to gusty east to south-easterly prevail. Little to no rainfall was observed over most areas, except for over extreme northern Belize on March 22 and over some central and southern areas on March 29 and 30, due to the proximity of a stationary front over central Cuba and a slightly moist east to north-easterly surface flow, respectively. This supported a few showers in those regions. The upper levels also continued very dry and stable due to ridging aloft and a west to south-westerly component up to March 25. An upper level TUTT orientated east to west was observed over the central Caribbean and the upper level flow became north to north-westerly across the area to end the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was near normal to slightly above normal over most areas of the country, except for the Corozal and some parts of the Cayo and Stann Creek districts where above normal rainfall was observed due to the proximity of the cold fronts that passed north of the country and the periodic moist north-easterly airflow. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/night-time temperatures were also near normal for all the stations except for Belmopan in the west and Punta Gorda station in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021mar1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021mar2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021mar3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: March 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021mar4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: March 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021mar5.jpg)
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Joined: May 2000
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I am looking forward to seeing the April stats - just from memory so far has not appeared to be a normal April weather pattern.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize April is climatologically the driest month of the year in Belize. The month is characterized by dry, warm and hazy conditions. An occasional late-season cold front may cross country. Whenever such systems cross at this time of the year, they typically produce very intense thunderstorm activity. The first few days of April 2021 were uncharacteristic as a relatively moist northeasterly airflow prevailed on the 1st and a late-season cold front crossed the country during the morning of the 2nd. A few showers affected most areas but particularly central and southern areas. Conditions remained slightly moist from the 3rd to the 6th as the frontal boundary stalled near the eastern coast of Honduras and Nicaragua. Skies were mostly cloudy during this period due to the dominance of thick cirrus clouds but shower activity was minimal with only brief showers over central and southern areas on the 4th and over northern areas on the 6th. A slack pressure gradient supported light easterly to southeasterly winds from the 7th to the 8th and moisture gradually decreased giving way to generally fair conditions with only isolated shower activity. Seasonably warm and mostly dry conditions set in from the 9th to the 17th across the country as heat lows developed over Mexico and extended a trough over the area which is typical for this time of year. Except for isolated thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains and near the western border during the afternoon times, conditions remained relatively dry during this period. The 18th started off mainly fair, hot and dry then a squall line developed during the late afternoon/early evening over the western part of the country but quickly spread to other areas by sunset. This feature generated strong to severe thunderstorms across the country but especially over some areas in the Cayo and Toledo districts. The activity persisted into the latter part of the night and affected mainly central coastal areas. Moisture increased slightly from the 19th to the 20th due to a pre-frontal trough positioned just west of the country. A few showers affected most areas but especially central areas during the night of the 19th and southern districts by evening time on the 20th. The frontal boundary remained over the southern Gulf of Mexico where the tail-end eventually dissipated. The remainder of the month was characterized by fair, warm and dry conditions as the Atlantic High Pressure system dominated and supported moderate to gusty easterly to southeasterly winds from the 21st to the 30th. Only afternoon and evening isolated thunderstorms developed over the mountains and inland areas during this period, with no significant rainfall. In summary the typical warm and dry weather finally set in around the second week of April 2021, however no severe heat waves occurred. The 2nd-3rd saw the passage of the only cold front for the month while the proximity of a pre-frontal trough on the 18th triggered severe thunderstorm activity and heavy rainfall over some areas in the west and south. The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of April 2021. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal across the stations sampled. As can be seen, rainfall was above normal for some areas in the Orange Walk and Belize districts as well as coastal areas of the Stann Creek district, but normal to below normal for the remainder of the country. Maximum/daytime temperatures were close to normal over most areas except for Central Farm and Melinda where temperatures were warmer than usual. Nighttime (minimum) temperatures were warmer than normal for all stations except for Punta Gorda where nighttime temperatures were slightly cooler than normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021apr1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021apr2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021apr3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: April 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021apr4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: April 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021apr5.jpg)
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize May marks the end of the 2021 dry season and early May typically the onset of the rainy season for the Toledo district which then moves progressively northward with the season starting over most areas by late May and over the entire country by early June. The 2021 rainy season was no different as it officially started around May 5th in the Toledo district and in the second dekad of month (11-20th) over the remainder of the country except for Central Farm in the west whose season started early on May 2nd. The Atlantic high pressure system dominated our weather during the first week of May supporting a light to moderate east to south-easterly airflow near the surface which became occasionally gusty as the pressure gradient tightened around the 3rd and 4th. Low level moisture remained at a minimal May 1st through 5th before becoming relatively moist towards end the week. At the upper levels, conditions were slightly more moist and neutral to weakly convergent with ridging as the main feature and an upper level TUTT over the western Caribbean that supported a west to south-westerly flow becoming north to north-westerly. This led to hot, dry and hazy conditions over the country with only isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms concentrated over the mountains, inland and near the western border. An increase in low level moisture in week two as a result of the close proximity to a stationary front over Bahamas and north eastern Cuba supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms on May 8 and 9, especially over the Toledo district. Another stationary front approached the area on May 14 resulting in a few showers and thunderstorms around the country. The remainder of the week saw mainly fair weather conditions with only brief isolated showers as the Azores high dominated the area producing relatively dry conditions and a moderate east-south-easterly airflow. Fair and relatively dry conditions persisted into week three as the high pressure ridge continued to support a moderate, gusty and dry east to southerly surface flow. Conditions started to become moist and unstable over the area around the 18th due to a trough over Mexico and northern Central America and a low pressure area with a 40% chance of development over the western Gulf of Mexico. This led to the surface winds backing and becoming more east and north-easterly and an Omega pattern caused by high amplitude ridge extending over the northern south America to the western Caribbean, trough over the central and eastern Caribbean and a ridge over the north Atlantic resulted in a west to south-westerly upper level flow. Thus, both low and upper level moisture increased and a divergent upper level pattern developed supporting the increase in afternoon thunderstorms over southern and inland areas from the 18th to 20th with several thunderstorms, showers and rain affecting mostly central and southern areas overnight into May 21. A trough over the Yucatan Peninsula persisted to the west of the country with ridging over the western Caribbean producing a light to moderate and moist easterly flow in the last week of May. Moisture continued to be advected over the area, supporting showers and thunderstorms across the country, especially over the central and southern portions late afternoon and evening. These showers were supported and further enhanced by a moist and divergent upper level pattern with a south-westerly component. This activity lasted until May 26 and signalled the official start of the 2021 rainy season for Belize over most areas. Drier conditions began to set in the last few days of the month in what would become the start of a dry spell as ridging prevailed in a relatively dry low level and neutral pattern over the area leading to mostly fair conditions with isolated showers and thunderstorms mostly inland and south. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, despite the early start of the raining season, rainfall was near normal over most central and southern parts of the country, except for the northern districts where below normal rainfall was observed. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/night-time temperatures were above normal for all the stations except for Central Farm in the west and Punta Gorda station in the south. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021may1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021may2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021may3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021may4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021may5.jpg)
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize June marks the start of the 2021 wet/Atlantic hurricane season and is typically the month where most stations observe their fist rainfall peak in the annual cycle. By June, the rainy season had officially started across the country. Despite the early start of the 2021 rainy season which started around mid-May for most areas, the month of June saw a dry spell across most areas. Rainfall is typically attributed to Upper Level Troughs, Surface Troughs, Tropical waves, Tropical storms and Hurricanes which moves westward through the Caribbean and. An average of two upper-level troughs, four surface troughs, one mid to upper level low and fifteen tropical waves would pass over the country in June, however, only two surface troughs and four tropical waves crossed the country with two of the TW being weak. After the early start of the 2021 rainy season, the country began to go through a dry spell as ridging dominated the area. Low and upper level moisture was minimal with subsidence for the first two days of week one and this supported mainly fair weather and isolated showers. Despite a slight increase in low level moisture for the remainder of the week, ridging and continued subsidence at the upper levels kept showers and thunderstorm activity isolated and brief over the country. The ridge supported a light to moderate easterly surface flow while a TUTT low over the central Cuba extending to the southwest Caribbean produced a north-westerly wind component at the upper levels. An increase in low level moisture continued in week two due to a surface trough over the Yucatan and southern Mexico, however, the North Atlantic Ridge was the dominant feature over the Caribbean Basin. At the upper levels, conditions also became moist and neutral to weakly divergent leading to an increase in showers and thunderstorm activity overnight and early mornings over most areas of the country, especially over southern areas. This activity was enhanced by an anti-cyclone over the area giving upper level outflow and a tropical wave advecting moisture over the country as it approached the area. The upper levels winds were primarily north-westerly during this period becoming west to south-westerly at intervals. Moist and unstable conditions continued into week three over the country as a low-pressure system developed over southwestern Mexico, west of Belize, which later became potential tropical cyclone number three. The passage of a tropical wave across the country on June 15 to 16 further enhanced instability and moisture over the country. This moisture and instability extended through to the upper levels with an upper-level anti-cyclone producing a north to north-westerly flow. Divergent conditions at the upper levels provided outflow and supported the development of deep convection over most areas from June 15 to June 19 leading to the development of showers and thunderstorms, especially over the Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo districts due to the tropical wave. As potential tropical cyclone three which became tropical depression Claudette moved further away from our area and impacted south-eastern United States and the tropical wave continued westward, moisture levels in the upper levels decreased with only some residual low-level moisture, resulting in drier conditions across the country. The upper levels also became neutral to weakly convergent. Riding supported an east to south-easterly airflow over the area and only isolated showers and thunderstorms prevailed on June 20 and 21, despite another weak tropical wave crossing on June 20th. During the last week of June, two weak tropical waves traversed the area and crossed over Belize on June 22 and June 27. Relatively moist conditions prevailed in the low levels during this period with a dry spell om June 23 and 24 as the North Atlantic High-Pressure Ridge extended over the Caribbean. The ridge pattern over the area supported an east to south-easterly moderate to occasionally gusty surface flow. At the upper levels, the anticyclone over Mexico supported a north to north-westerly wind component, except for June 27 where the flow was south-westerly, and conditions were mostly moist through to the end of the month. The upper-level pattern was neutral to weakly convergent supporting only isolated showers and thunderstorms across the country, except for a few more over some southern and central locations. With the passage of a tropical wave on June 27 and a mid-level low which was reflected near the surface over the Honduras/Nicaragua border, a few showers, thunderstorms, and periods of rain were observed over most areas starting in northern and central locations early morning and spreading to inland and southern areas by the afternoon. A divergent pattern at the upper levels provided outflow for these thunderstorms to develop. The moist and unstable conditions persisted to the end of the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, the country suffered from several dry spells with rainfall being mostly attributed to low levels moisture and a few tropical waves/surface troughs. Thus, rainfall was below normal over most areas. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal to slightly above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/night-time temperatures were near normal to slightly above normal for most the stations except for the Towerhill, Belmopan and Punta Gorda stations were below normal night-time temperatures was observed. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jun1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jun2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jun3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: June 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jun4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: June 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jun5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, July 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize July typically is one of the months for the peak of tropical waves which is a contributor to the rainfall normally observed during the month. Rainfall is typically attributed to Upper-Level Troughs, Tropical waves and mid to upper-level lows which moves westward through the Caribbean. An average of three upper-level troughs, four mid to upper level low and eighteen tropical waves would pass over the country in July, however, only five tropical waves crossed the country with only one strong wave and a few dry spells were observed across most areas. Conditions were relatively moist over the country for the first week of July in both the low and upper levels, with a light to moderate east to south-easterly surface airflow. Tropical Storm Elsa formed and was over the Northern Caribbean with a ridge pattern over the wider Caribbean. An inverted trough near Cuba and Jamaica resulted in a north-easterly upper-level flow which veered to the southwest after the trough moved west and an anticyclone moved into the area. Moisture advected over Belize due to the inverted trough and a tropical waved that crossed the country on July 4, produced a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over central, southern, and coastal portions of the country. A weakly divergent pattern further enhanced showery activity on July 4 while neutral conditions persisted for the remainder of the week. The dry day during this week was on July 2. Low level moisture decreased in week two, except for July 13 when a tropical wave crossed the country. At the upper levels, a patch of dry air prevailed through to July 10, then an increase in moisture was observed. Near the surface, the North Atlantic Ridge continued to be the dominant feature over the Caribbean Basin with a moderate east to south-easterly flow while an inverted trough over the western Caribbean produced a north-easterly flow and a convergent upper-level pattern up to July 10. These conditions supported mainly fair and windy weather with only isolated showers and thunderstorms, except for a few more over southern areas. The approach and passage of a tropical wave on July 13, supported by an upper-level ridge over Central America leading to a south-westerly flow and an increase in low and upper-level moisture and instability over the area. This wave produced showers and thunderstorms around the country enhanced by a weakly divergent upper-level pattern. High pressure ridge persisted into week 3 with relatively dry conditions near the surface up to July 17, thereafter, low level moisture began to increase and remained moist until the end of the week. An east to north-easterly surface airflow prevailed throughout the week. Conditions at the upper levels were relatively moist for this week with an upper-level trough over the area, however, the upper-level pattern continued neutral expect for when a tropical wave passed the country. Fair weather prevailed on July 15 and 16 with an upper-level ridge over the area suppressing the development of any deep convective activity and only isolated showers and thunderstorms were observed on radar imagery, except for a few more over inland and southern areas of the 16th. Conditions became moist and unstable on July 17 as one of two tropical waves approached the area. The first wave crossed the country on July 18 and supported several outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms around the country with an extreme thunderstorm cell developing northwest of Sandhill village. The second wave crossed on July 20 with showers and thunderstorms continuing around the country, especially over central, southern and western areas and gusty low-level winds. A light east to north-easterly surface airflow prevailed for most of the week becoming east to south-easterly flow on the last day of the month. This was as a result of a tropical wave and a TUTT induced trough near Belize and the Yucatan that reflected down to the surface. The week stated off relatively dry with low moisture levels near the surface and generally isolated showers and thunderstorms around the country. Moisture levels increased as the week progressed with the TUU/TI trough lingering over the area producing a weakly divergent upper-level pattern and providing outflow for the development of deep convection. On July 28, the TI/TW supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over most areas along with an isolated squall line mostly over the Cayo district. Showers and thunderstorms persisted into July 29 across the country with a temporary break on July 30 and only isolated showers and thunderstorms over central and offshore areas. Moist and unstable conditions prevailed to end the month with some showers and a few thunderstorms around the country as a result a moist south-westerly upper-level flow caused by the upper level TUTT and an upper-level trough over the country. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, despite the passage of several tropical waves and upper-level trough during the month that contributed to the rainfall, the country had a few dry spells with rainfall being concentrated mostly over central and northern areas. Thus, rainfall was normal to above normal over northern and central areas, except for the Belize district and below normal over the south. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal to slightly above normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures for most the stations except for the Central Farm station where slightly below normal night-time temperatures was observed. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jul1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jul2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jul3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: July 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jul4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: July 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021jul5.jpg)
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Monthly Weather Summary, August 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize August in Belize is typically known as the "Mauga Season" where a marked decrease in rainfall activity is normally observed. Rainfall is normally attributed Upper-Level Troughs, Tropical waves, Cold Core Lows and Mid to Upper-Level Trough. An average of five upper-level troughs, five mid to upper level low and sixteen tropical waves and three cold core lows would pass over the country in August. However, only four tropical waves crossed the country with one of the TWs being weak. Most of the activity during the month was due to a persistent TUTT low at the upper levels and the proximity of several tropical systems to Belize. The north Atlantic high-pressure ridge dominated the area supporting a light to moderate and relatively east to north-easterly airflow over Belize in week 1. Most of the moisture over the area was concentrated in the low levels below 750hPa, except for August 7, where a decrease in both low and upper-level moisture was observed. An anticyclone was analysed at the upper levels over Belize with a TUTT low over the Yucatan Peninsula. This resulted in a west to north-westerly upper-level component August 1 to 5 becoming more northerly on August 6 and 7 as the upper level low over the Yucatan Peninsula backed over Belize from the west. Ridging at the upper levels supported mostly subsident conditions over northern Belize with slightly divergent conditions over the central and southern portions of the country. As a result, mainly fair weather was observed over most areas for much of the week supporting isolated showers and thunderstorms except for August 2 where on and off outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms affects most areas, with heavier rainfall affecting the south due to the presence of an TUTT induced trough over the area. The second wet day for this week was on August 6, where a divergent upper levels and relatively moist low levels supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms around this country in the morning, decreasing and becoming fair by the afternoon. Week 2 started off moist and unstable as the upper level TUTT low was analysed over the Yucatan and Northern Belize leading to an increase in moisture while a neutral to divergent pattern provided outflow for the development of deep convection over the area. Most of the heavy rainfall activity was concentrated over southern and some central areas, while isolated showers and thunderstorms were observed over the remainder of the country of august 8 to 9. The surface flow was east to south-easterly with a south-westerly component at the upper levels. On August 10, a tropical wave approached the country crossing on August 11 with showers and thunderstorms affecting most areas of the country as a moist east to north-easterly airflow prevailed. A decrease in moisture and showery activity was observed on August 12 and 13 as the north Atlantic high-pressure ridge was the main feature dominating the area. Both the lower and upper levels were dry with subsident air aloft supported by an anticyclone to the east of Belize. The week ended with Tropical Depression Fred centred over central Cuba on August 14 extending a trough over the NW Caribbean and supporting a light east to north-easterly flow advecting moisture over the country and leading to the development of showers and thunderstorms over northern and central Belize. A light east to north-easterly airflow prevailed into week 3 as the high-pressure ridge was the dominant feature influencing our weather from August 15 to 17. Mainly fair weather with only isolated showers or isolated thunderstorms occurred over inland and extreme southern portions of the country. During this period, an inactive tropical wave approached the country with little to no rainfall activity as the low and upper levels were dry with neutral upper-level pattern. The ridge pattern at the upper levels produced an easterly wind component. Tropical Depression Grace was south of Haiti with Tropical Storm Fred over the northern Gulf of Mexico and newly formed Tropical Storm Henri near Bermuda. Of these systems, TD Grace that has strengthened to TS Grace was the closest system to Belize. TS Grace was west of Jamaica on August 7 and moved quickly and strengthened into a Hurricane on August 18 as it moved north- north-westward east of the Yucatan Peninsula. The proximity of Hurricane Grace led to an increase in moisture and instability over the area and troughing supported a light north-easterly flow. The upper-level moisture increased, and a divergent upper-level pattern had developed over Belize supporting some showers and thunderstorms offshore during the night-time, with a few showers and thunderstorms over some inland areas in the afternoon with periods of persistent rains over the north-western region in the evening as hurricane Grace downgraded to a tropical storm when it moved over northwest Yucatan. Lingering moisture from Grace that re-gained hurricane strength over the Bay of Campeche along with upper-level support from a TUTT low over the Bay of Campeche supported showers over most places with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall over the Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo districts. Conditions became temporarily dry on August 21 only isolate showers and thunderstorms were observed over southern and offshore areas. The approach and passage of a tropical wave on August 22 and 23 supported very moist and divergent conditions over Belize. The lingering TUTT low over the are provided additional lift and supported showers and thunderstorms around the country that started over the south and moved northward. Showers and thunderstorms persisted on the 24 and overnight into August 25 before activity decreased in the afternoon as moisture levels decrease. This decrease was short-lived as troughing over the northwest Caribbean supported a light northerly flow near the surface with the upper level TUTT supporting a south-westerly component due to an active tropical wave over the south-central Caribbean Sea but no significant showery activity was reported over Belize. This system became Hurricane Ida which posed no direct threat to Belize but a slack pressure gradient and the TUTT axis over Belize with moist conditions supported several outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms over coastal and northern Belize that developed and persisted through the night on August 27. A Ridge pattern began to settle over the area causing a gradual decrease in moisture as a drier east to south-easterly airflow prevailed. A neutral to weakly convergent pattern developed due to ridging at the upper levels resulting in a dry north-easterly component. The drier conditions led to fairer conditions with a few showers and isolated thunderstorm over the coastal and northern areas. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced below normal rainfall except for a few central and southern locations. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show slightly above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, while minimum/night-time temperatures were near normal except for Central Farm and Savannah where slightly cooler night-time temperatures was observed. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021aug1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021aug2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021aug3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize September in Belize marks the peak of the hurricane seas and the secondary maxima for rainfall over most areas. Apart from tropical systems, rainfall is typically attributed to 6 Upper-Level Troughs, 7 Tropical waves, 3 Surface Troughs, 2 Cold Core Lows and 1 Mid-Upper Level low on average. However, the passage of tropical waves and surface troughs over the area was below average resulting in below normal rainfall over most areas. The north Atlantic high-pressure ridge prevailed over the area during week 1 supporting a light to moderate easterly surface flow. Only isolated showers and thunderstorms were observed. Conditions became moist and unstable between September 3 to 7 due to a surface trough over the area and an upper level TUTT extending into the Gulf of Honduras that lingered throughout the week. Moist conditions extending through to the upper levels and the TUTT supported divergent conditions over Belize. This led to an increase in shower and thunderstorms activity across the country, especially over northern and central locations. The wettest days during this week were September 3 and 4 as the TUTT low became stationary over Belize fuelling rainfall and thunderstorm activity. Week 2 continued moist through to the upper levels and unstable as a tropical wave approached the area. This wave crossed the country on September 9 brining with is a few showers and thunderstorms which started over the northern parts of the country and increased during the night. Most of the rainfall activity was behind this wave with showers and thunderstorms increasing and spreading over most areas on September 10, especially over central and southern locations. The surface winds during this period were predominately easterly and became north-easterly with the passage of the wave. At the upper levels, a ridge TUTT pattern prevailed with a west to north-westerly component and neutral to weakly divergent conditions. Moisture levels began to decrease after September 11 as the ridge pattern returned with a tight pressure gradient supporting moderate to occasionally gusty east to north-easterly winds. Another tropical wave approached the country on September 13, but no significant showery activity was associated with it due to dry lower and upper-level conditions and a neutral to weakly convergent pattern hence only isolated showers and thunderstorms were observed, mostly over southern locations. A light east to east to south-easterly airflow prevailed into week 3 as the high-pressure ridge was the dominant feature influencing our weather from September 15 to 21. The surface winds became east north-east towards the end of the week. Most of the moisture was capped below 850 hPa while the upper levels continued dry. Mainly fair weather with overnight showers or isolated thunderstorms occurred over northern, coastal, and southern portions of the country. On September 18, a tropical wave coupled with an inverted trough at the upper levels crossed the country with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms affecting the south and mountainous areas. Tropical Depression Peter was to the northeast of Puerto Rico and Tropical Storm Rose was to the northwest of Cabo Verde Islands on September 21 but none of these systems posed a threat to Belize. The upper-level ridge supported an east to north-easterly flow and the TUTT which has become zonal persisted in the area. Conditions became moister and more unstable during the last week of the month as moisture convergence occurred over the area due to an early season cold front over the Bay of Campeche. Winds were light and an east to north-easterly surface flow prevailed. At the upper levels, the nigh centre over the area supported a north to north-westerly flow along with a neutral to divergent pattern. Some showers, periods of rain and thunderstorms affected moistly southern, coastal, and offshore areas until September 27. Thereafter, moisture levels decreased in both the low and upper levels and the upper-level pattern became convergent at the end of the month. Mainly fair weather closed out the month with isolated showers and thunderstorms over the south and along the western border of September 30. At the end of this month, Hurricane Sam and Tropical Storm Victor were located to the northeast of the Lesser Islands and south of the Cabo Verde islands, respectively. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced below normal rainfall. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show slightly above normal maximum/daytime temperatures and minimum/night-time temperatures were near normal except for Central Farm where slightly cooler night-time temperatures was observed. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021sep1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021sep2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021sep3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: September 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021sep4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: September 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021sep5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, October 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize October is one of the months were tropical storms and hurricanes peaks, but this month was rather quiet with not much tropical activity. Rainfall can also be attributed to on average 3 Upper-Level Troughs, 5 Tropical waves and 1 Surface Troughs. During the month, four tropical waves crossed the country and several surface troughs over the area near the northwest Caribbean and the Yucatan. Overall, rainfall was below average over most areas, except for parts of central coastal Belize. The first week saw relatively moist conditions over most areas in both the low and upper levels on most days due to a moist and light east to north-easterly airflow from surface troughs lingering over the area and the approach and passage of a tropical wave on October 7. At the upper levels, ridging was the dominant feature which supported a north-easterly wind component and neutral to weakly convergent pattern for most of the week. On October 6 and 7, the approaching tropical wave led to upper-level conditions becoming weakly divergent with the high-pressure ridge over the western Caribbean supporting a more south-easterly flow. A few showers and affected most areas during the beginning of the week due to lingering moisture from the passage over a tropical wave at the end of the previous month. A temporary break was observed at the middle of the week, but rainfall activity increased on October 6 and 7 due to the tropical wave where some showers, periods of rain and thunderstorms affected most areas along with early morning fog on October 7. Week 2 continued moist through October 8 and 9 with a slack pressure gradient and a light easterly flow over Belize and the northwest Caribbean. Ridging continues to dominate at the upper level and a north-westerly flow prevailed with a weakly divergent pattern. This supported showers and thunderstorms across the country with most activity occurring during the night, then affecting mostly northern and southern areas during the daytime. Moisture levels began to decrease over the area leading the low and upper levels to become dry. Showery activity decreased over most areas October 10 to 14 supporting only isolated showers or thunderstorms over the Maya mountains and southern Belize. A weak tropical wave crossed the country on October 12 and 15 but not much activity was associated with these waves. In the upper levels, troughing was observed at the levels over Belize because of an upper level low over the Bahamas and a north-westerly upper-level wind component was observed. The upper-level trough extended to the surface supporting a light east to north-easterly flow over the area and only a few showers over the mountains and southern Belize on October 15 in week 3. Moisture levels were relatively low, but a gradual increase was observed at first in the low levels then extended to the upper levels by October 18. Most of the showery activity continued to affect the mountainous areas and southern Belize while conditions continue neutral at the upper levels over the area. An increase in low and upper-level moisture was observed on October 18 through to October 21 as a cold front approached the area and became stationary over the Bay of Campeche before lifting north of the area. This led to an increase in cloudiness and instability further supported by a weakly divergent upper-level pattern due to a south-westerly upper-level flow from a ridge over the western Caribbean. Thus, showers and thunderstorms developed and continued to affect southern Belize on October 19 before increase and affecting most areas. On October 20, a diurnal pattern was observed in the rainfall activity with showers and thunderstorms affecting southern and some inland areas during the night-time and affected northern, coastal, and offshore areas during the day. This continued into October 21 affecting mostly northern areas and dissipated by with afternoon with radar imagery showing rainfall activity across the country by nightfall. Moist conditions prevailed going into the last week of the month with light easterly surface flow and a south-westerly component at the upper levels influenced by an upper-level jet north of the area. A few early morning showers and thunderstorms affected mostly northern, central, and offshore areas and decreased in the afternoon on October 22. October 23 and 24 were relatively dry, however, a few showers and isolated thunderstorms were observed primarily over southern and inland areas. Another increase in moisture and instability occurred on October 25 as a cold front moved into the northern Gulf of Mexico. October 26 and 28 saw ridging as the dominant feature over the area and supported a dry and warm south-easterly flow and only a few showers mostly over the mountain and southern areas. The front moved over the north-western Yucatan on October 28 extending from northern Florida. This front was the first front of the season to cross Belize and did so in October 29, however, not much rainfall activity was associated with it as only a few showers were observed from pre-frontal activity over central, southern, and offshore areas overnight on the 28th. The front became stationary on October 30 over north- eastern Nicaragua and supported a cool north-westerly surface flow. The high pressure behind the front supported fair and dry conditions behind the front. The lowest temperature was observed at the Central Farm station with a value of 15.6 oC in the Cayo District on October 31. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country continue to experience below normal rainfall. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures and slightly above normal minimum/night-time temperatures over most areas, except for Savannah in the south and Central Farm in the west, where near normal maximum temperatures and below normal minimum temperatures were observed, respectively. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021oct1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021oct2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021oct3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021oct4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: October 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021oct5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2021National Meteorological Service of Belize December begins the transition period from the wet season into the cool period of the dry season. Conditions over the area are typically cooler due to the progression of frontal systems from the southeast United States. It is also one of the months where the passage of cold fronts peak in Belize. On average, a total of eight cold fronts, two stationary fronts, eight upper-level troughs and four surface troughs would influence weather conditions and rainfall in December. Overall, rainfall was below normal over most areas, except for parts of south-eastern Belize. The first week saw relatively dry conditions over most areas in both the low and upper levels on most days due to ridging over the area, except for the 4th where a surface trough was the main feature. Low levels winds were north to northeast up the 5th then became east to southeast on the 5th and 7th. Little upper-level support persisted this week due to a high-pressure ridge over the area with a neutral to weakly convergent pattern and a south-westerly wind component. As a result, mainly fair weather prevailed with isolated showers, except for December 3, 4 and 7 where a few showers affected mostly central and southern locations due to the low-level trough. Moisture levels began to increase in week 2 in the low levels, but the upper levels continued relatively dry except for December 14th when a surface trough was over the northwest Caribbean. A moderate east to north-easterly airflow prevailed due to a broad low over the area from the monsoon trough over Central America. Ridging continued to dominate at the upper level and a west to south-westerly flow prevailed with a weakly divergent pattern through to the 10th. The upper-level flow became east to north-easterly for the remainder of the period as an upper level TUTT moved east of the country on the 11th and a neutral to weakly convergent pattern prevailed. Showers were isolated to start the week and gradually increased to a few affecting most areas, especially over central and southern locations. Activity increased further on December 14th with a surface trough over the Yucatan Peninsula influencing the weather leading to some showers and isolated thunderstorms over central southern and offshore areas. Conditions continued relatively moist in week 3 with higher amounts of moisture over southern locations, except for December 18. An east to north-easterly airflow prevailed on the 15th to 17th, then became east to south-easterly on the 18th and 19th as a ridge dominated the area. At the upper levels, a weakly divergent pattern prevailed from the 15th to 17 then became neutral to weakly convergent with a south-westerly upper-level flow due to an upper-level ridge, except for the 18th and 19th where the flow was north and north-westerly. The moist conditions and somewhat unstable upper levels supporting an increase in showery activity which was further enhanced as the first cold front for the most approached and crossed the country late December 21. Some showers and a few thunderstorms continued from December 14 to the 17, especially over central and southern locations with a few elsewhere from pre-frontal activity. Showers and thunderstorms were isolated and affected mostly central and southern locations to December 20 with a few on the 21st associated with the cold front that affected mostly offshore and southern areas. Towards the end of the month, drier conditions began to set in with limited moisture in the low levels and very dry at the upper levels as a high-pressure ridge build behind the cold front. A north and north-westerly flow prevailed on the 22nd and 23rd then it veered and became north-easterly through the 26th. A surface trough persisted to December 27th before ridging became the dominant feature over the area. The upper-level pattern was neutral to weakly convergent, and an upper-level trough extended from the Bahamas to eastern Honduras on December 22nd and 23rd, then a ridge prevailed from the 24th to 31st with a south-westerly flow. Cool and cloudy conditions lingered over the area behind the front until December 24th, the isolated showers affected mostly the coast and offshore areas on the 25 to 27. Little to no rainfall was observed to end the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country continue to experience below normal rainfall, except for over some central and southern locations. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show above normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021dec1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021dec2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021dec3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2021 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021dec4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2021 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2021dec5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, January 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize January is typically the most active month for frontal systems during the dry season which is one of the sources of rainfall. On average, a total of twelve cold fronts, two stationary fronts, seven upper-level troughs, three surface troughs and one warm front would influence weather conditions and rainfall in January. A total of six cold fronts, one stationary front, six surface troughs, seven high pressure systems, and two surface lows affected the country, but the dominant feature was ridging over the area. Overall, rainfall was below normal over most areas, except for parts of central and south-eastern Belize who received most of the rainfall activity from the passage of the fronts and low pressure systems. The first week started off relatively dry over most areas but by January 3, moisture began to increase in the low levels, while upper levels continued dry due to ridging over the area. Ridging was also the dominant feature over the area during this week which supported a moderate east to south-easterly surface flow on most days, except for a moist north-easterly flow on the 3rd to the 6th due to the passage of a cold front which extended from western Cuba to Belize and a surface trough over the Yucatan and Northeast Belize of January 5th. Little upper-level support continued during this week due to a high-pressure ridge over the area with a neutral pattern becoming weakly divergent of January 7th. The upper-level flow was west to south-westerly supported by the high-pressure ridge to the west and a digging trough to the east of Belize. Fair weather prevailed the first two days of the month with moisture levels increasing as the front approached and crosses that led to showers and periods of rain affecting most areas of the country on the 3rd, then mostly over offshore areas on the 4th. Showery activity was isolated January 5th to 6th, then a slight increase occurred on the 7th with an isolated thunderstorms embedded in it and affected southern offshore locations. Despite being in the dry season, moisture levels continued relatively high into week 2 supported by a moist north-easterly surface airflow due to the high-pressure ridge extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the western Caribbean. The upper levels were relatively moist up until January 10th with an upper-level trough supporting a west to southwest airflow in a neutral to weakly divergent pattern. The high moisture levels during this week along with the instability enhanced by an approaching frontal system yielded a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over central and northern locations on the 7th and 8th. The showery activity persisted trough to January 13 and rainfall activity increased to some showers and periods of rain over offshore locations while activity was isolated on the mainland and decreased further on the 14th. Drier conditions began to set in ahead of the passage of a cold front with a strong ridge behind. The frontal system did not have much moisture associated with it in both the lower and upper levels which were relatively dry during the period but did support a few showers and periods of rain over central and western locations along with overcast skies as it cross the country on January 16 before becoming stationary. Temperatures, however, were relatively cool supported by a moderate north to north-westerly surface flow through to the 18th. The upper-level flow continued west to south-westerly due to a near stationary trough/ridge system. Fairer conditions prevailed with mild temperatures and isolated showers as a ridging supported an east to south-easterly flow January 19 to 21 except for Punta Gorda, where 16mm of rainfall was received on the 20th. The week ended with an increase in moisture and showery activity over northern, central, and inland locations, Although the upper levels continued very dry over the area, low level moisture in the last week except for January 25-27 which were relatively dry supported several outbreaks of showers to close off the month. This was due to the approach of a cold front that became stationary over the Yucatan Peninsula on January 22, but prefrontal activity supported scattered showers along the coast and over mountain areas. The moist east to north-easterly surface flow that prevailed due to these systems led to a few showers persisting over coastal and northern areas on January 23 and 24. A break in showery activity occurred between January 25 to 27 as a light east to south-easterly flow prevailed with a dry and stable atmosphere and only isolated showers were observed mainly offshore. On January 28, another frontal system approached with a 1012hPa low pressure system across Belize. This led to overnight showers over coastal and offshore locations shifting to central and coastal locations in the early morning. Moisture levels increase further over the areas as the strong front crossed the country of January 29 and extended over the western North Atlantic to Honduras. A broad upper-level trough was associated with this front supporting a westerly upper-level flow with a moderate to strong north to north-westerly surface flow. Light rain affected central locations with some rain and isolated showers over offshore locations. On January 31, light rain continued over some central coastal areas but decreased by afternoon as conditions over the area became drier as an east to south-easterly surface flow began to set in and a zonal flow prevailed at the upper levels. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country continue to experience below normal rainfall, except for over some northern, central, and southern locations. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime except for Melinda in the south that was slightly above normal and near normal minimum/night-time temperatures, except for Belmopan and Savannah which were slightly above normal. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jan1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jan2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jan3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jan4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: January 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jan5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, February 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize February is typically the second most active month for frontal systems during the dry season which is one of the sources of rainfall. On average, a total of eight cold fronts, one stationary fronts, two upper-level troughs and one surface trough would influence weather conditions and rainfall in February, a total of two cold fronts, two stationary front, one surface trough and ten high pressure systems affected the country. Overall, rainfall was above normal over most areas, except for south-eastern Belize which received near normal due to rainfall activity from the passage of the fronts and fronts that dissipated and stalled over the area. The first week started off relatively dry over the country through to February 4. This was due to a very dry airmass over the area with riding in both the lower and upper levels. This resulted in subsidence inhibiting any significant rainfall development as a neutral to convergent upper-level pattern prevailed. Upper-level winds were mostly zonal while near the surface, a moderate east to south-easterly flow prevailed. Skies were clear to partly cloudy during this period with little to no rainfall, except for isolated showers around the country and isolated thunderstorms over the Maya Mountains in the afternoon and evening on February 4 as a cold front approached the country and the low-level winds became north-easterly with moisture advection unto the mainland from over the northwest Caribbean. On February 5, a cold front extended from the western North Atlantic to the Yucatan Peninsula resulting in an increase in low level moisture while the upper levels continued very dry. A neutral to weakly divergent upper-level flow prevailed and supported an increase in showery activity and isolated thunderstorms around the country but mostly over central and offshore areas. The north-easterly flow behind the front supported rain over northern areas overnight on the 6 and offshore areas during the day with fair weather to end the week the 7th. The front became stationary over the western Yucatan and moist conditions prevailed in the low levels for the remainder of the week. This was accompanied by a light to moderate north to north-easterly surface flow through to the 11th in neutral to weakly divergent conditions from a digging upper-level trough with a west to south-westerly flow. Showers were isolated on February 8th then a few showers affected central and offshore areas on February 9th. Between February 10th and 11th, no significant activity occurred on the mainland with only light rain concentrated over offshore areas. Another cold front was approaching the area on February 12th and was located over the North-western Gulf of Mexico with a deep polar trough to the west of the country supporting a few showers over northern and central locations during the morning hours. The cold front crossed the country on February 13th and extended to central Belize with showers being isolated at first, increasing and affecting the north in the afternoon, then some showers, periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms affected central and southern locations. The front became stationary near Nicaragua on the 14th and supported a windy, cool north-westerly flow as a strong ridge build over the area behind the front. Moisture levels continued very high over the area, but rainfall activity was mostly over offshore areas, Cool temperatures prevailed into week three from the passage of the cold front with relatively moist conditions continuing in the low levels up to February 17th. Showers and light rain persisted mainly along coastal areas on the 15th, then over northern and inland locations as conditions continued neutral to weakly divergent over the country due to troughing supporting a south-westerly upper-level flow. A tight pressure gradient supported a moderate east to south-easterly flow. Conditions became drier over the area on February 18th to 21st with a high-pressure ridge supporting a moderate east to north-easterly flow and neutral to weakly convergent upper-level pattern with a broad upper-level ridge over the southwest Caribbean. This yielded a west to south-westerly flow aloft through to the end of the week. During the period, showers were isolated, except for a few more over some northern and southern locations periodically. During the last week of the month, the main feature affecting the weather both at the lower and upper level was a ridge pattern. This supported dry conditions across the country with mostly an east to south-easterly flow in the low levels, and a south to south-westerly flow at the upper levels with a neutral to weakly divergent pattern. Showery activities were predominantly isolated, with slightly more occurring over some central and southern locations. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime except for Melinda in the south that was slightly above normal and slight above normal minimum/night-time temperatures. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022feb1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022feb2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022feb3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: February 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022feb4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: February 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022feb5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, March 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize March is typically the month where frontal activity begins to decrease in Belize but also one of the months with the most upper-level troughs. On average, a total of six cold fronts, one stationary front, one warm front nine upper-level troughs and three surface troughs would influence weather conditions and rainfall. In March, a total of three cold fronts, one stationary front, three surface trough, one surface low and fourteen high pressure systems affected the country. Overall, rainfall was above normal over most areas due to rainfall activity from the passage of the fronts and fronts that dissipated and stalled over the area, except for the extreme north-western part of the country and the mountains which received near normal rainfall. During the first week of March, moisture levels was capped below 800hPa as dry conditions continued to prevail in the mid and upper levels. A light and slightly moist north-easterly flow over the northwest Caribbean and Belize supported a few showers and periods of light rain from the first to the fourth mainly over some central, southern, and offshore areas from the tail end of a weakening cold front. These showers were shallow as limited upper-level moisture and instability existed over the area due to a neutral to weakly convergent pattern and a west to north-westerly flow most of the week from an upper-level ridge. March 5 to 7 saw drier conditions with a high-pressure ridge supporting an easterly surface flow and mainly fair weather except for March 6, where a few showers affected mostly northern and central locations. In week two, a light to moderate east to south-easterly flow from a high-pressure ridge over the area supported fair and warm conditions across the country. No significant rainfall activity occurred March 8 through 11 except for an isolated shower and isolated thunderstorm over the Maya Mountain and near the western border. Both the lower and upper levels contained little moisture during this period with the upper level being very dry. A neutral to convergent upper-level pattern prevailed with a mostly west to north-westerly wind component that inhibited any significant rainfall activity over the area. Conditions became gradually moist from March 12 to 14 as a cold front approached the area and crossed the country early morning on March 13. Subsequently, troughing prevailed and isolated showers developed over the south on March 12 with skies becoming cloudy by March 13 and a few showers and periods of rain affected mostly central, coastal, and southern Belize. This activity continued into March 14 as conditions became moister and more unstable with a divergent upper-level pattern. A significant amount of rainfall was recorded during this period in the abovementioned locations with the highest one-day total rainfall occurring near Melinda Station on March 12, Belmopan on March 13, and Punta Gorda on March 14 with 59.3mm, 63.5 mm and 84 mm respectively. The daily rainfall record for March 13 was exceeded at the Phillip Goldson, Spanish Lookout, Central Farm, Belmopan, Savannah, and Melinda stations with values of 57.9mm, 49.7mm, 46.4mm, 63.5mm, 39.2mm and 11.4mm respectively. Only one station exceeded the Month of March daily extreme value and that was Punta Gorda with 84mm, the previous record was 77.5mm. Ridging was the dominant factor in week three and a moderate east to south-easterly surface flow prevailing that became strong at times. At the upper levels, dry conditions persisted with a west to south-westerly flow due a broad trough supporting a neutral to weakly divergent pattern through much of the week. Despite having a slight increase in moisture in the low levels between March 16 to 19, showery activity over the area was isolated and mostly over the southern districts and Maya Mountains in the afternoon. A few more showers occurred of March 16 over Toledo. Elsewhere, fair, and warm conditions prevailed. During the last week of the month, the main feature affecting the weather in the low level was a ridge pattern with relatively dry conditions. At the upper levels, troughing over the central Gulf of Mexico supported a west to south-westerly flow through to March 29 then the flow became north-westerly. On March 24 and 25, low level moisture increased over the area due to a cold front over the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize. This front crossed and became stationary near northern Honduras on the 26th and then the tail end began dissipating on the 28th. A few showers or light rain with isolated thunderstorms developed between 24th and 25th due to the front mainly over the south and north. When the tail end of the front began to dissipate on March 28 with a shear line extending over the northwest Caribbean, showery activity increased across the country, especially over norther, central and coastal locations and very moist conditions prevailed in the low levels in a north to north-easterly flow. The activity shifted mostly north and south on the 29 and began to decrease ending the month with little to no rainfall activity as a strong south-easterly flow developed over the area. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime and slight above normal minimum/night-time temperatures except for Punta Gorda where slightly cooler than normal minimum temperatures were recorded. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022mar1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022mar2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022mar3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: March 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022mar4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: March 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022mar5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, April 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize April is normally the driest month where frontal activity ends in Belize and temperatures start to warm up as we approach the end of the dry season and the hottest part of the year. It is also the month where we see the second highest occurrence of upper-level troughs over the country. On average, a total of two cold fronts, eight upper-level troughs, two surface troughs and one mid to upper-level low would influence weather conditions and rainfall. In April, a late season cold front crossed the country while several surface troughs near to our area produced troughing over the country and supported several days of rain, especially in the latter parts of the month. This resulted in rainfall activity being above normal over northern, coastal, and southern locations. It the extreme northwest and western portions of the country, below normal rainfall was observed. During the first week of April, predominantly dry conditions prevailed across the country as very little moisture was available in the low and upper levels. Ridging was the overall pattern with slight troughing in the area, but Belize was under the convergent side. The dry air was further enhanced by a light to moderate east to south-easterly surface wind flow throughout the week. As a result, both surface observations and radar images showed little to no rainfall affecting the country, with only isolated showers being observed over some portions of northern Belize and over the Maya Mountains due to daytime heating. At the upper levels, a neutral pattern prevailed providing little to no support for showery development and a broad ridge extending over the Northwest Caribbean produced a near zonal flow at the beginning of the week that later became west to south-westerly to end the week. The second week started off with a late season and weak cold approaching and crossing the country on the 8th. Moisture levels over the area increased as a result in both the low and upper levels between the 8th to 10th of the month. An anticyclone at the upper levels supported a south-westerly wind component with neutral to weakly divergent conditions. With the front, shower activity was concentrated mostly over northern and extreme southern Belize, however, a significant amount of rainfall did not occur during its passage. Surface winds became north-easterly during this period. The front later stalled near Honduras before it dissipated. Moisture lingered over the area for a few days, mostly in the low levels through to April 13 before drying began. Winds near the surface veered to an east to south-easterly flow as a ridge pattern prevailed and at the upper levels, a neutral pattern with a near zonal flow was observed. Only isolated showers were observed during this period with activity occurring overnight in the south. Ridging was the dominant factor in week three and an east to south-easterly surface flow prevailed. At the upper levels, dry conditions persisted with a north-westerly flow due a broad ridge supporting a neutral to convergent pattern through much of the week. Moisture continued low over the area, despite having the winds back to the North-east as a cold front passed well north of the area. Fair and warm conditions prevailed with little to no rainfall during this period. On April 21, an upper level TUTT extending from the western north Atlantic to the western Caribbean produced a surface trough over the western Caribbean and the surface winds over Belize became east to north-easterly resulting in a slight increase in low level moisture. This led to the development of a few light showers over the mainland and moderate showers occurred over offshore areas. Most of the rainfall activity for this month occurred during the last week of the month as troughing persisted and was the dominant feature during the period. This supported a moist east to north-easterly surface flow resulting in high low-level moisture. Conditions were relatively dry at the upper levels through most of the week except for April 22, 23, 26 and 27 as an upper-level trough supported a west to south-westerly component and neutral to divergent conditions on the moist days. The other days a more subsident and convergent flow prevailed. Showers and thunderstorms were scattered around the country, especially over southern and coastal areas on April 22, 23, 26 and 27 with the highest amount of rainfall being observed between April 26 and 27. The Melinda Station received the highest one-day total rainfall of 85.1mm on April 26 and the Airport Station received the highest one-day total of 78.7mm on April 27, while the highest monthly total rainfall was recorded at the Melinda Station in the Stann Creek District with 221.1mm of rainfall which marks the highest monthly total ever recorded at this station. Only isolated showers occurred over the other days in the last week with drier conditions setting in to end off the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall, especially along coastal areas while below normal conditions were observed over the west of the country. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures except for Punta Gorda where slightly cooler than normal minimum temperatures were recorded. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022apr1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022apr2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022apr3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: April 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022apr4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: April 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022apr5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, May 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize May marks the end of the 2022 dry season and early May is typically the onset of the rainy season for the Toledo district, which then moves progressively northward with the season starting over most areas by late May and over the entire country by early June. The 2022 rainy season officially started around May 20th in the Corozal and Stann Creek district and in the third dekad of month (21st -30th) over the remainder of the country. Typically, the rainfall during this month is associated with the passage of tropical waves where fifteen waves would cross the country and two upper-level troughs and 4 surface troughs. In May, three tropical waves crossed the country while several surface troughs near to our area produced troughing over the country for most of the month and supported several days of rain in the latter parts of the month. This resulted in rainfall activity being above normal over northern, coastal, and southern locations. It the extreme northwest and western portions of the country, below normal rainfall continues. During the first week of May, predominantly dry conditions prevailed across the country with moisture capped below 800 hPa and a very dry upper level. Ridging was the overall pattern with slight troughing in the area leading to an east to south-easterly surface flow. As a result, both surface observations and radar images showed isolated showers and thunderstorms for most of the week, with a few showers being observed over some portions of central and southern Belize and over the Maya Mountains due to daytime heating. At the upper levels, a neutral to weakly convergent pattern prevailed for the first half of the week then conditions became weakly divergent in the latter half of the week. An upper-level trough over the western and central Caribbean supported a west to north-westerly upper-level flow which for the most part, hindered the development of significant convection. Week two marked the beginning of a significant dry spells across most areas of the country due to a strong ridge pattern over the area and limited lower and upper-level moisture. Conditions for most of the week was hot and dry with only isolated showers prevailing. A few areas south and along the coast one day with a few showers or isolated thunderstorms. Thunderstorm activity was concentrated mostly near the western boarder towards the end of the week. The hot and dry conditions were additionally supported by an east to south-easterly airflow over the area from May 8 to 10. The flow shifted to a more east to north-easterly flow from May 11 to 14. The convergent upper-level pattern resulting from a strong west to north-westerly flow due to a trough over the western and southwestern Caribbean provided strong subsidence over our area. The dry and warm conditions continued into week three with a slack pressure gradient due to weak ridging over the area supporting a light easterly flow through to May 18. Both lower and upper-level moisture remained low during this time and a convergent upper-level pattern persisted. A broad ridge at the upper levels supported a wind shift to a more west to south-westerly flow and towards the end of the week, the upper-level pattern became neutral to weakly divergent as a tropical wave approached the area. The approach of this wave supported an increase in low and upper-level moisture and conditions began to become more unstable over the area. This wave supported a moderate easterly surface flow on May 19 ahead of the wave, and the first tropical wave crossed the country of May 20. The passage of this wave would also mark the beginning of the 2022 rainy season in the north and some areas in southern Stann Creek. For the most part, most of the showery activity was behind the wave and showers or thunderstorms continued isolated over most areas, with a few thunderstorms near the western border. The moisture from the first tropical wave persisted into week four and continue to the end of the month. Conditions became very moist in both the low and upper levels. For the remainder of the month, the convective potential remained high as a divergent upper-level pattern prevailed with a west to south-westerly wind component due to an upper-level ridge over the area. Near the surface, a light to moderate east to south-easterly flow prevailed. Some showers, a few thunderstorms and periods of rain occurred over most areas of the country during this week, especially along southern, northern, and coastal areas due to the passage of a tropical wave on May 24 and another on May 28 with lingering moisture behind both waves. The most significant rainfall occurred on May 22 near Melinda with 200.1mm of rainfall. The Corozal District had the most rain days with 12, above the normal monthly average of 7 and the overall monthly total was 109% above normal. Stann Creek district received the highest monthly rainfall amount of 386mm in 7 rain days. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall, especially along coastal areas while below normal conditions continue to be observed over the western portions of the country. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures except for Punta Gorda where slightly cooler than normal minimum temperatures were recorded. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022may1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022may2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022may3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022may4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: May 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022may5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, June 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize The start of the 2022 rainy season continued in the month of June while normally signals the start of rains for most other regions of the country apart from the Toledo District. The first rainfall maxima normally occur in the month of June for central locations due to the passage of tropical waves as June is one of the peak months for these systems. Normally, a total of 15 tropical waves, both active and inactive would cross Belize. Rainfall is also supported during this month by upper level and surface troughs. During the month, troughing due to surface troughs north of the area was the main feature coupled with two low pressure systems and five tropical waves that cross the country. This supported several days of rain throughout the month and resulted in rainfall activity being above normal over the Corozal and northern orange walk district and below normal over the remainder of the country except for near normal conditions over the south. The highest amount of rain days occurred over south-eastern Belize near the Savannah Station with 24 rain days and the highest one-day rainfall total occurring over the Corozal district with 197.2 mm on June 18 near Libertad. June had above the normal amount of rain days indicating that rainfall accumulation was distributed over most of the month except for the extreme north and south of the country, however, rainfall activity in most areas was normal to below as was forecasted. Moist and unstable conditions prevailed to start off the month due to the presence of the monsoon trough near southern Belize and a low-pressure system over Belize that was deemed potential tropical cyclone one by the National Hurricane Centre. This lasted throughout the first week of the month with high available moisture in both the lower and upper levels with a divergent pattern aloft supporting the development of showery activity over Belize. This was supported by a broad upper-level anti-cyclone producing a west to south-easterly upper-level wind component through the period. The presence of the low-pressure system produced a light west to south-westerly flow from June 1st to 4th then a weak ridge north of the area shifted the winds to a more east and south-easterly flow from June 5th to 7th. Several outbreaks of showers, intense thunderstorms and periods of rain occurred over most areas on June 1st and 2nd then only concentrated over inland areas on June 3rd. Rainfall activity began to decrease over the area on June 4th through to the end of the week and generally isolated showers and thunderstorms prevailed, primarily over inland and central locations. In week two, ridging was the dominant feature for most of the week that supported a light to moderate east to south-easterly surface flow. Most of the moisture over the area was capped in the low levels, except for the end of the week where two tropical waves approached and crossed the country back-to-back on June 13th and 14th resulting in an increase in moisture through to the upper levels. An upper-level ridge to the east of Belize over the western and central Caribbean Sea supported a north-westerly upper-level flow and neutral to weakly convergent conditions for most of the week. A shift to the west and southwest was observed on June 11th and 12th due to an upper level low to the west of Cuba. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms occurred mostly over the Maya Mountains during the afternoons with most of the rainfall over some northern and southern locations. During this week, significant rainfall activity occurred over central and southern locations around June 8th and 9th. The passage of the tropical waves supported some showers and a few thunderstorms across the country starting on June 12th and continuing into June 13th. A few showers continued to affect the south on June 14th. Moisture persisted into week three which was supported by the presence of a trough of low pressure over the area and the passage of a tropical wave towards the end of the week. The trough of low pressure moved over Belize on Saturday, June 18 producing intense rainfall mainly over the Central and Northern Districts. Very moist and unstable conditions persisted June 19 even though the area of low pressure had already moved west of Belize as activity ahead of an approaching tropical wave and helped to maintain the wet conditions. Extreme rainfall was reported in the north, especially near San Estevan and Towerhill during June 18 to 21 that resulted in significant flooding and a flood warning was issued prior to the event on June 16 for those areas, and other low lying and flood prone areas of the country. These showers and intense thunderstorms were supported by strong outflow at the upper levels with a divergent pattern observed over our area throughout the week from an upper-level ridge accompanied by a North-westerly upper-level flow. The surface winds were east to north-easterly June 15 to 17 then became east to southeast from June 17-20. A north eastly flow prevailed on June 21 due to the passage of a tropical wave. Relatively moist conditions started off the last week of the month with a gradual decrease in moisture as the week progressed. A light east and north-easterly flow prevailed with a ridge pattern as the dominant feature over the week. Two tropical waves crossed the country during the week, the first on June 25 and the second on June 30. These supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over southern and inland locations. Rainfall activity over most other areas was isolated. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced below normal rainfall, especially along western areas while near normal conditions was observed over the Toledo district and above normal rainfall over the northern portions of the country due to an extreme rainfall event from a low-pressure system during the month. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures where slightly cooler than normal minimum temperatures were recorded over central coastal areas and the southern districts. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jun1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jun2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jun3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: June 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jun4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: June 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art8/2022jun5.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, September 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize September is normally the peak of the hurricane season which for the most part was off to a slow start. Most of the tropical storms and hurricanes frequent the area during the month of September. The secondary rainfall starts around this time peaking in most southern locations and are attributable to tropical waves, upper-level troughs, surface troughs, cold core lows, and mid-upper level low. Normally, a total of 7 tropical waves, both active and inactive would cross Belize. During the month, a slack pressure gradient with ridging prevailed through the first two dekad and supported a light east to south-easterly flow. This supported several days of rain throughout the month over most areas while rainfall was concentrated mostly the earlier parts of the month in the north. The highest amount of rain days occurred over south-eastern Belize near the Savannah Station with 21 rain days and the highest one-day rainfall total occurring over the Toledo district with 132.0 mm on September 17 near Punta Gorda. September had above the normal amount of rain days indicating that rainfall accumulation was distributed over most of the month except for the extreme north and south of the country. Rainfall was normal to above normal over more areas. Moist and unstable conditions prevailed to start off the month due to the presence of a tropical wave and a surface trough near the area. This resulted in high low and upper-level moisture over Belize from September 1-3 with a decrease in upper-level moisture from the 4th to the 7th of September. The overall pattern for this week was ridging due to a slight pressure gradient over the NW Caribbean supporting light east to south-easterly winds while Tropical Storm Earl was north of the area over the northern Caribbean. The approach and passage of the tropical wave on September 2 resulted in showers and thunderstorms affecting the country overnight into the daytime further enhanced by a divergent upper-level pattern. Showers and thunderstorms continued over the area through September 4 especially over southern and inland locations. Fairer conditions prevailed from September 5-7 as upper-level moisture decreased and the ridge pattern became dominate with neutral to weakly convergent upper levels supporting mainly isolated showers, except for a few more over the south. In week two, leading up to the peak of the hurricane season, not much activity was occurring in the tropics except for what was now Hurricane Earl south of Bermuda. Thick Cirrus clouds prevailed over the area during this week with high upper-level moisture and a divergent upper-level pattern over Belize. Isolated showers affected the Toledo district on September 8, however, by September 9, showery activity increased across the country producing moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms. A ridge pattern supported a light to moderate east to south-easterly surface flow. Showers and rain were widespread over most areas of the country on September 11 except for northern and central locations. Isolated showers prevailed to end off the week except for over the south where some showers and thunderstorms continued. The showers over the south were enhanced by a south-westerly upper-level flow from an anticyclone over the northwest Caribbean. This flow veered and became more north-easterly. Activity in the tropics began to pick up with Hurricane Fiona developing and churning near Puerto Rico. Upper-level moisture remained high and a south-westerly flow due to an anticyclone to the east of the country prevailed. Low level moisture was relatively moist for most of the week and showers were isolated during the week which some showers and thunderstorms affecting the southern portions of the country overnight into early morning with significant rainfall activity over the south on September 17. Troughing over the area supported a light north-easterly flow and an upper level TUTT over the western Atlantic extending into the Yucatan supported a west-south-westerly upper-level flow. Most to very moist conditions prevailed in the last week except for September 30. Tropical Depression #9 formed east-southeast of Jamaica that would later become Tropical Storm then Hurricane Ian between September 25-28. The presence of Hurricane Ian over the NW Caribbean supported a north-easterly surface flow from September 22-25 then a shift to the north and northwest prevail to the end of the month as Ian approached the Yucatan Peninsula. A TUTT low was also present over the Yucatan from September 22-25 along with an inverted trough and the upper-level flow was south-westerly supporting a neutral to weakly divergent pattern. A few showers and thunderstorms affected mostly central and southern locations. This activity increased to some as Hurricane Ian passed near the country on September 28 and continued into the 29th become beginning to decrease. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall, especially along southern coastal areas while near normal conditions was observed over the Toledo district during the month. In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show near normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures while slightly cooler than normal minimum temperatures were recorded over Toledo district. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022sep1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022sep2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022sep3.jpg)
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Monthly Weather Summary, December 2022National Meteorological Service of Belize December is one of the cooler month where fronts peaks. This month we experienced several fronts, and even the fronts that did not cross directly over the country had some influence leading to cooler temperatures.Throughout the first week, prevailing conditions at the low level were moist supporting showers and thunderstorms across the country mostly during the night. The wind flow was generally northerly varying from northeasterly to northwesterly at the lower level, this was supported by a ridge and a cold front over the Northwestern Atlantic with its stationery end over the Central Gulf of Mexico in the earlier parts of the week. In the latter part of the week a ridge supported a northeasterly airflow. In the upper levels, conditions were generally dry. The dominant feature in the upper level was a ridge which supported easterly and southwesterly winds in the earlier parts of the week. The winds varied from northeasterly to east and northeasterly throughout the latter part of the week. The second week started off moist with a ridge supporting a northeasterly flow which resulted in showers and isolated thunderstorms across the country for the first 2 days. In the middle of the week a high centered in the extreme Northern Central Gulf of Mexico extended across the Caribbean Basin, supporting very dry conditions in the low-level while the prevailing northeasterly wind flow continued. At the upper levels, ridging supported mostly dry conditions, except for the 10th, where it was relatively moist and a return of the dryness after. The relatively moist conditions supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms on this day with only isolated showers affected the country in the latter part of the week. The third week started off generally dry resulting in fair conditions with the dominant feature at the low levels being ridging, then transitions to relatively moist conditions which supported showers across the country. The dry conditions were further supported as the ridge build associated with a cold front over the Bay of Campeche and another cold front South of Florida on the 15th and 16th of the month respectively that became stationary. The ridge associated with these fronts continued to support a light east-southeasterly flow suppressing any significant showery activity. In the latter part of the week, an increase in moisture was observed due to a trough at the Florida Keys to the Eastern Yucatan. This supported a somewhat moist easterly airflow over the area and let to some showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over the northern, coastal, and southern parts of the country. In the upper levels, ridging also supported dry conditions except on the 18th where the conditions were relatively moist. The upper-level winds ranged from westerly to southwesterly during this week. During the last week, conditions at the low levels were generally moist, except for the 23rd where it was dry due to a cold front near the Bay of Campeche supporting a northwesterly flow. Most of the week saw moist conditions because of several stationary fronts which resulted in rain across the country especially over the southern parts of the country as the dissipated. In the latter part of the week, ridging was the dominant feature and moist conditions prevailed supporting a northerly flow. In the upper levels conditions were dry, except for the except for the 25th where it was moist because of a polar trough over the northern and western domain and the passage of a cold front resulting in cool temperatures on Christmas and Boxing Day, however, the cooler temperatures were not without rain as light rain persisted over the area on these two days. The winds here continued to range from the westerly to southwesterly to close off the month. The graph and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperatures. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month across the stations sampled. As can be seen, most of the country experienced above normal rainfall, especially over northern, northwestern and along southern coastal areas while near normal conditions was observed over the Belize district during the month.In terms of temperatures, most of the stations sampled show slightly above normal maximum/daytime and minimum/night-time temperatures. Monthly Rainfall Summary![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022dec1.jpg) Monthly Maximum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022dec2.jpg) Monthly Minimum Temperatures![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022dec3.jpg) Rainfall Observed: December 2022 (mm)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022dec4.jpg) Rainfall Observed: December 2022 (% Above/Below Average)![[Linked Image]](//Ambergriscaye.com/art9/2022dec5.jpg)
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