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Climate Prediction Center’s Hispaniola Hazards Outlook April 9 – April 15, 2015
Heavy rains during the past week have resulted in fatalities and flooding near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
During March, average to above-average rainfall was observed over the southern Peninsula and Nord-Ouest department of Haiti, while below-average rain was recorded over parts of the L’Artibonite, Centre, and Nord-Est departments of the country. Below-average rainfall was also observed throughout the northern two-thirds of the Dominican Republic. During the past week, moderate to heavy rains fell over the Ouest department of Haiti, resulting in flooding, overflowing of rivers, and fatalities over areas near Port-au-Prince, including Tabarre, Cite Soleil, delmas, and Carrefour. Moderate to heavy rains were also observed over neighboring western Dominican Republic, while little to light rains were recorded elsewhere. Despite adequate vegetation conditions over portions of Hispaniola such as central and eastern Dominican Republic, unfavorable conditions have persisted over parts of the Nord-Ouest, L’Artibonite, and Centre departments of Haiti, and bordering western Dominican Republic, according to recent Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. For next week, a favorable distribution in rainfall is forecast over Hispaniola, with scattered, heavy showers over Haiti and the central and eastern parts of the Dominican Republic. While the forecast enhanced rains should help reduce moisture deficits and aid cropping activities many local areas of Hispaniola, additional rains could exacerbate conditions over flood- affected grounds of Haiti.
