FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity whose purpose is to provide objective information about food security conditions. Its views are not necessarily reflective of those of USAID or the U.S. Government. The FEWS NET weather hazards assessment process and products include participation by FEWS NET field and home offices, NOAA-CPC, USGS, USDA, NASA, and a number of other national and regional organizations in the countries concerned.
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The USAID FEWS NET Weather
Hazards Impacts Assessment for Hispaniola May 19 – May 25, 2011
The short-term dryness has worsened in northwestern Haiti due to the lack of rainfall observed during the past week. However, the return of favorable rains is expected across the country for the upcoming seven days.
Light to moderate (< 30mm) rainfall observed in Haiti during the past week has amplified the dryness affecting the country during the last several weeks. Below-average rainfall during the last seven days strengthened the thirty-day rainfall deficits to exceed 100mm in the central and north eastern departments of Haiti. This dryness has also expanded further south to cover the entire country during the last thirty days. Climatologically, Haiti receives rainfall amounts between 100 and over 200mm during May. However, only the southern half of Haiti has received rainfall ranging between 50-100mm since the beginning of the month. This has resulted in moderate (20- 50mm) moisture deficits in the western, central, and northern departments of Haiti. Rainfall forecasts, however, suggest the return of moderate to heavy (30-50mm) rains across much of Haiti, with the heaviest (> 100mm) rainfall in the northern departments of Haiti during the next seven days. This is expected to partially relieve the dryness and benefit cropping activities across much of the country.
