Climate Prediction Center’s Central America Hazards Outlook September 17 – 23, 2020
Flash flood has been reported over Tegucigalpa in Honduras
1) An abnormal dryness has been observed for the past several weeks over Belize and still showing below-average rainfall for the coming week.
2) A high amount of rainfall is expected to fall over the western part of Guatemala, the Pacific Ocean facing coastal areas of Costa Rica and Panama during the coming outlook period
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Belize is expected to receive below-average rainfall during the coming outlook period
During the past week, the western part of Peten department has received a tremendous amount of rain exceeding 300mm, with the largest amounts close its borders. Moderate to heavy rainfall has been recorded over the southern part of Guatemala, the southern part of Honduras, El Salvador, the northern and central part of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Light to moderate rain has been recorded over the coastal area’s countries facing the Atlantic Ocean. During the past 30 days, a decrease of rainfall has been observed over the eastern coastal area of Nicaragua, Belize, and the central and northeastern areas of Guatemala. In contrast, an increase of rainfall has been observed over the northwestern part of Guatemala, and the western part of Honduras. The onset and continuation of seasonal rainfall is needed to reduce or eliminate moisture deficits and support agricultural activities over many local areas of the inland of Central America.
During the next week, above-average rain is forecast across Central America except the eastern part of Honduras, Belize, and the eastern part of Nicaragua. Some heavy rainfall is expected over the southern part of Nicaragua, and Costa Rica which could exacerbate conditions on the ground even trigger new flooding and landslides over already-saturated areas over the regions.
Week 1 Rainfall Total Forecast and CMORPH Climatology (mm) September 16 – 23, 2020
Figure 1: Source NOAA / CPC
