Climate Prediction Center’s Hispaniola Hazards Outlook November 20

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Climate Prediction Center’s Hispaniola Hazards Outlook November 20 – November 26, 2014

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After heavy rains during the past week, a dry weather is expected over Hispaniola during the next week.

Above-average rains continued for the third consecutive week over Hispaniola. During the past week, the western two-thirds of the Island received moderate to heavy rains, with torrential rains throughout the northern departments of Haiti and northwestern Dominican Republic. This has worsened conditions on the ground over many flood-affected areas in northern Haiti. Light to locally moderate rains were also observed over parts of southern Haiti. In contrast, little and slightly below-average rains were recorded in eastern Dominican Republic. The increase in rainfall over the past few weeks has eliminated and turned accumulated moisture deficits into surpluses over many local areas of the dry portions in the north and south of Haiti. However, some local areas have continued to receive insufficient rains as accumulated rains have accounted for between only 50-80 percent of their averages since the beginning of the second rainy season. Additionally, most recent vegetation condition indicators have displayed poor conditions over those areas. During the next week, a dry weather is forecast over Hispaniola as high pressure systems are forecast to dominate conditions in the region. The forecast below-average rains should relieve wetness over many already- saturated areas of Hispaniola. However, moisture deficits could also increase and continue to negatively affect cropping conditions over localized dry areas of the Island.