Monthly Weather Summary, January 2015

National Meteorological Service of Belize

January 2015 began with relatively moist conditions across Belize. Ridging from a continental high pressure system over the South-Central, United States of America and a stationary front in the Gulf of Mexico, supported a moist east to north-easterly flow. For the first two days, this moist flow supported a few showers across the country. A gusty south-easterly set in on the third day, but moisture persisted and maintained a few showers around the country. The gusty south-easterly flow persisted on the fourth day and dried up the moisture.

However, on the fifth, another stationary front in the Bay of Campeche induced a backing of the winds and a moist north-easterly flow set in once again. This supported a few showers around the country. As the north-easterly flow persisted on the sixth and seventh day, showers became confined to the south of the country.

On the eighth day, a cold front reached as far south as Northern Belize. It supported an increase in showers across the country. This front quickly dissipated late on the same day. However, the associated shear line remained over Northern Belize on the ninth. The following day, it moved to Southern Belize and then into the Gulf of Honduras. From the ninth to the twelfth, this system supported showery weather across the country. The associated high pressure ridge over the Northwest Caribbean maintained a moist north-easterly flow, which supported cloudy and rainy weather on the thirteenth and fourteenth.

From the fifteenth to the twenty-third, weather conditions improved. Moisture levels decreased and showers became generally isolated, at times none at all. This was after a cold front slipped into the Gulf of Mexico earlier on the twenty-first and induced an east to south-easterly flow. Late on the twenty-third, pre-frontal activity supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms over some inland and northern areas.

On the twenty-fifth, a cold front quickly crossed the country, accompanied by a few light showers. On the twenty-sixth, the associated high pressure ridge supported a dry and cool northerly flow. However, the following day saw cool and rainy weather. On the twenty-seventh night, another cold front quickly crossed the country, which supported cool and dry conditions through to the twenty-eight. Moisture levels increased on the twenty-ninth and persisted through to the end of the month. This supported showers mainly over southern Belize.

January in Belize falls in the transition period between the 'wet season' and 'dry season'. Climatologically, it is the coldest month of the year. Data collected this January, however, shows that minimum temperatures were above normal. On the other hand, data shows that rainfall was above normal. Even though three cold fronts affected the country, it is evident that the associated high pressure ridge did not supported the normal cool temperatures. On the other hand, the persistent moist, north-easterly flow that dominated for most of the month, supported above normal rainfall.