COOLIDGE – It looks like Montserrat and the neighbouring islands are in for a record month, according to officials at the Antigua & Barbuda Meteorological Office.
Meteorologist Dale Destin at the Met Office said “Antigua, has measured only 1.7 mm (0.07 in) of rainfall. This represents the second driest such period on record. The only time May 1-15 was drier was back in 2001.”
Destin said clearly the weather is not normal for May and usually around 37.8 mm (1.49 in) of rain would have been measured at the V. C. Bird International Airport by now. “Instead, we have had near record dryness,” he commented on his blog.
“The rest of the country has not fared better. In fact, there are a few areas that are yet to see measurable rainfall for the month. Neighbouring islands are also experiencing similar rainfall deficits. This severe dryness for the first half of May is very rare. On average, this happens once every 250 years, which translates to a 0.4% probability of May 1-15 being this dry,” Destin explained.
The low rainfall seems connected to the passage of El Nino and also the passage of Sahara Dust through the region. However, the meteorologist is holding out hope that the weather will improve.
