More rainfall for two and half months this year compared to last year

Heavy rain blankets the landscape overlooking the RLB International Airport on March 10, 2010 (photo by Erasmus Williams)

ST. KITTS, MARCH 17TH 2010 (CUOPM) – With a dry spell from Jamaica in the North to Guyana in the South, St. Kitts has recorded more rainfall this year compared to the same period in 2009.

Information from the Met Office at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport indicates that some 7.76 inches of rain was recorded between January and March 15th this year compared to 5.40 inches for the first three months of 2009.

Statistics show 1.22 inches of rain was recorded in January this year compared to 1.57 inches in January 2009; 2.75 inches were recorded in February this year compared to 1.95 inches in January 2009 and up to March 15th, some 3.99 inches of rain has been recorded compared to 1.88 inches for the whole of March 2009.

The 2.75 inches of rain recorded in February this year, fell over a two-day period February 24th and 25th. The 3.99 inches of rain to date in March was recorded between the 7th and 12th March.

Records also show that less rain was recorded in 2009 compared to 2008, with 36.08 inches in 2009 compared to 42.96 inches in 2008, a decrease of 6.88 inches.

The wettest month in 2008 was October with 8.84 inches, while May was the wettest month in 2009 with 7.53 inches.

Between 2000 and 2009, the wettest year was 2004 with 64.91 inches and the driest, 2002 with 27.08 inches.

In 2000, 3.55 inches of rain was recorded; 43.31 inches in 2001; 27.08 inches in 2002; 35.90 inches in 2003; 64.91 inches in 2004; 60.37 inches in 2005; 56.40 inches in 2006; 31.03 inches in 2007; 42.96 inches in 2008 and 36.08 inches in 2009.