Monthly Weather Summary, May 2015

National Meteorological Service of Belize

May first, 2015 was a cloudy and cool day across Belize. Minimal rainfall activity was observed. A ridge in the Gulf of Mexico supported a cool and moist north-easterly air flow, while a stationary front was observed from Northern Honduras to Cuba. On the second and third day, the ridge continued to support the moist north-easterly flow. As a result a few showers affected coastal areas.

From the fourth to the thirteenth, after the ridge collapsed, a dry and gusty (at times) east-south-easterly air flow developed. A the same time, a convergent pattern developed aloft.

On the fourteenth and fifteenth, the upper- levels became divergent over the southern areas of the country. As a result, night time thunderstorms were observed over the extreme south, while minimal rainfall activity was observed elsewhere.

The weather remained fair and mostly dry on the sixteenth and seventeenth, then night time thunderstorms were once again observed over the extreme south on the eighteenth.

A convergent pattern developed and prevailed between the nineteenth and twenty-second. At the lower-levels, a dry pattern persisted and minimal rainfall activities were observed.

On the twenty-third, an upper -level trough moved over the area, supporting a divergent pattern. A few showers and thunderstorms affected most areas of the country.

The pattern aloft changed as early as the twenty-third night and became convergent. From such time to the thirtieth, fair and mostly dry weather prevailed across the country.

Another trough aloft on the thirty-first and increased moisture at the lower-levels supported a few showers and thunderstorms.

In conclusion, observation indicates that May 2015 was mostly dry across Belize. An east to south-easterly flow, gusty at times, prevailed for majority of the days. Two upper-level troughs and increased low-level moisture supported the bulk of the rainfall on the twenty-third and on the thirty-first.

Monthly Weather Summary, June 2015

National Meteorological Service of Belize

Moist and unstable conditions prevailed during the Monday 1st as a northeasterly surface - low level flow developed in advance of a tropical wave. At the upper levels a west-northwesterly flow prevailed with a trough over the Gulf of Mexico and a ridge from the Eastern Pacific across Central America supported a diffluent pattern aloft. A low developed along the wave over the Gulf of Honduras by Tuesday 2nd with the associated trough extending north to near western Cuba. Light winds and land breeze effects added to coastal convergence. Twenty-four hour rainfall amounts of two to five inches were recorded at some stations across the country during Monday 1st and one to two inches Tuesday the 2nd.

By Wednesday 3rd as the low tracked northeast towards northeast Yucatan, an upper level trough positioned over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and maximum divergence shifted east of our area. Twenty-four hour rainfall amounts were significantly reduced. However during the Thursday 4th and Friday 5th a deep layer southerly flow resulted in showers and thunderstorms developing in the south over-night with light showers spreading north across the country through the early morning. As the 1013hPa low drifted to western Cuba and upper level trough positioned along eastern Yucatan and Belize, some rainfall continued to affect some areas during the Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th and increasing while affecting most aread during the Monday 8th with 24 hour rainfall in the order of 1-3 inches.

As another tropical wave approached, the resulting northeasterly airflow got upper level support from a west-southwesterly flow aloft. The tropical wave crossed Central America by Tuesday 9th and the axis of the upper level trough reposition east of Yucatan and Belize with a ridge across the Western Caribbean. Showers and thunderstorms over-night and into the early morning the Wednesday 10th were accompannied by strong and gusty winds up to 40 knots over northern and coastal areas. During the Thursday 11th and Friday 12th the surface trough / tropical wave near northern Belize and Yucatan deepened and then developed into a low by the Saturday 13th. A diffluent west-southwesterly flow prevailed aloft and showers and thunderstorms developed inland and spread east towards the coast. Light rainfall continued to affect some areas of the country the next few days.

The low moved into the Gulf of Mexico and eventually developed into Tropical Storm Bill by the Tuesday 16th while a tropical wave crossed Central America south of 17N. Improved weather conditions developed the next few days with only isolated showers or thunderstorms. This was as a result of a relatively dry and dusty 900-550hPa layer and a gusty east-southeasterly flow along with a convergent northwesterly flow aloft.

A few showers and isolated thunderstorms affected mostly the south during Thursday 18th but mainly fair weather with only isolated showers prevailed during Friday 19th through the Monday 22nd. Showers and thunderstorms increase over-night Tuesday 23rd into the Wednesday 24th as a surge in low level winds and moisture preceeded an approaching tropical wave. An upper level low over northwestern Yucatan provided upper level support in the form of a diffluent southwesterly flow. Moist and unstable conditions persisted over-night Thursday 25th into the Friday 26th with showers and thunderstorms again accompanied by squally conditions.

Relatively dry and hazy conditions prevailed during Friday 26th and Saturday 27th as a dry layer developed at low levels while conditions continued moist and unstable at the upper levels. Low level moisture increased during Sunday 28th while at upper levels a ridge to the west and trough east of the area supported a convergent northwesterly flow. Showers and thunderstorms affecting mostly the south of the country during night-time / early morning hours with lighter activity over the remainder of the country during the daytime and these conditions continued through the final days of June.

Monthly Weather Summary, July 2015

National Meteorological Service of Belize

The month of July 2015 saw less rain than normal. All stations recorded below average rainfall, with all stations in the north and one in the south receiving less than 25 percent of the average rain for the month. Temperatures also seemed to be a little above normal.

The month started off with mainly fair conditions and isolated shower activity, as a moderate easterly surface flow prevailed. A tropical wave on the 2nd produced some showers and thunderstorms over most areas. Punta Gorda recorded 19mm of rain on the morning of the 2nd, and Libertad a similar amount on the 3rd. The tropical wave moved away and mainly fair and dry conditions prevailed the next two days, with moderate to strong surface winds on the 3rd. The weather continued mainly fair with isolated shower activity through the 7th, except for a few morning showers over some parts of the south on the 5th. Easterly winds became fresh to strong at times. Skies then became cloudy during the afternoon and evening of the 8th and some showers developed in the evening and night. Stations over the central portion of the country received 35-40mm of rain, while Punta Gorda received almost 50mm.

An approaching tropical wave along with unstable upper level conditions caused by an upper low over southern Mexico were responsible for the increase in showers. A few showers continued over central and southern areas for the next two days as the tropical wave moved slowly away and a moderate easterly flow prevailed. Middlesex, Pomona and Punta Gorda all recorded 50-60mm of rain for the 24 hours ending at 9:00am on the 10th. The flow shifted to the east-northeast on the 11th and 12th with mainly fair conditions along with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. An upper ridge over the eastern Pacific resulted in a weakly convergent northwest pattern aloft. A few afternoon showers and thunderstorms affected mostly inland areas on the 13th and 15th, with isolated shower activity the day between. A light east-southeast airflow prevailed on those days. An increase in moisture and unstable upper level conditions, produced by a trough over southern Mexico on the 16th , supported some showers and thunderstorms over the south early in the morning that spread north during the day.

Punta Gorda reported 107mm of rain that morning, while Hershey reported 30mm, with all other stations receiving much less. A moderate easterly airflow, supported by a surface high/ridge over the Gulf of Mexico, with only isolated showers prevailed during the next two days as conditions dried out. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms then developed on the 19th in association with a weak surface trough over the northwest Caribbean. A moderate east-southeast airflow prevailed at the lower levels. Hershey and Punta Gorda both received 27mm of rain that morning. The airflow dried out and the next three days were mainly fair and warm. The weather continued warm on the 23rd, but with isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. A neutral high level pattern prevailed, with an upper ridge to the south and an upper low north of the Yucatan peninsula. A moderate easterly surface flow and moderately high moisture levels supported a few showers mainly over southern districts during the day and night of the 24th. Mainly fair and warm weather then prevailed from the 25th to the 27th.

Two weak tropical waves then supported isolated thunderstorms and a few showers over most areas during the next three days. A few stations over the central and southern portion of the country received rainfall of more than 30mm during those days. The upper pattern was mostly neutral with an upper low over Honduras on the 30th. The last day of the month saw a return to mainly fair, warm and dry conditions, as the moisture decreased and the surface flow veered a bit to the east-southeast.