Monthly Weather Summary, December 2019

National Meteorological Service of Belize

December marks the first month of the cool transition period between the rainy season and the dry season for Belize. This transition period typically lasts for about two to three months before the dry season sets in between mid February and early March. December is typically cool over the country with the main rainfall producers being cold fronts, prefrontal troughs and shear lines.

The first day of December 2019 was mainly fair as a light east to northeasterly airflow prevailed over the country then the flow became north to northeasterly on the second day as the first cold front of the month approached later that night. The front stalled and dissipated over the country resulting in light showers and rain mainly over the mountains and southern offshore areas from the 3rd to the 5th.

High pressure influence behind the front supported fair, mild and mostly dry conditions across the country from the 6th to the 10th. A stationary front over the Bay of Campeche induced a light to moderate east to northeasterly flow over the area that supported a few showers and isolated thunderstorms mostly over southern coastal areas on the 11th. A few showers persisted along the south coast and spread to central areas on the 12th and 13th becoming isolated by sunset on the 13th.

Generally fair conditions prevailed from the 14th to 16th as a weak pressure gradient dominated the northwest Caribbean and maintained a light east to northeasterly flow over the country.

A prefrontal trough supported a squall line during the early afternoon of the 17th that generated thunderstorms and showers mainly over northern inland and southern inland areas of the country. The activity continued overnight mainly over the north and west with some showers and rain persisting through to the 18th morning. Skies were overcast on the 18th and light rain affected most of the mainland while thunderstorms and showers remained offshore as the cold front crossed the country.

Cloudy and cool conditions along with a moderate west to northwesterly flow prevailed over the country from the 19th to the 21st after the passage of the front. Light rain affected the mainland and showers occurred offshore. The 22nd started off cloudy with mostly layered clouds that dissipated in the afternoon and a moderate to gusty north to northwesterly airflow prevailed. A few showers and light rain continued to affect northern portions of the country.

Mainly fair, cool and dry conditions persisted over the next few days from the 23rd through to the 25th as the airflow remained gusty and from the north to northwest up to the 24th then became light and northerly on Christmas day. The 26th to the 28th winds were light and variable as a slack pressure gradient dominated the Caribbean basin. A light east to southeasterly airflow and fair conditions prevailed over the country on the 29th. No rainfall occurred during this period.

The 30th of December was generally fair with only isolated showers as a light easterly airflow prevailed over the area while on the last day of the month a few showers affected the mainland especially central areas as another cold front approached the country.

The graphs and maps below summarize the total rainfall and average maximum and minimum temperature recorded during the month of December 2019. They also give an indication of how these readings compare to the normal for the month. Rainfall was below normal for northern and central inland areas of the country while it was above normal for central coastal and southern areas except for Melinda in the Stann Creek District. Maximum temperatures show above normal maximum/daytime temperatures, except for Savannah where the average maximum temperature for the month was slightly below normal and the Airport where the average maximum for the month was just about normal. Nighttime/minimum temperatures were near normal for most areas.

Monthly Rainfall Summary

[Linked Image]

Monthly Maximum Temperatures

[Linked Image]

Monthly Minimum Temperatures

[Linked Image]