Monthly Weather Summary, January 2016
National Meteorological Service of Belize
January 2016 began with a few coastal showers in Belize. Showers were also observed over the south. A moist north-easterly air flow was dominating as a result of a stationary front in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. These showers continued on the second day of the month and became isolated on the third.
The first cold front for the month crossed the country on the fourth day. The only indication of its passage was light showers moving from west to east, along with the backing of the winds to the northwest. Showers were observed over and near Belize through to the sixth.
The country experienced little rainfall activity during the next three days, as the frontal system moved out of the area and winds veered to the east and southeast. On the tenth day, another cold front crossed the country. Again, not much rainfall activity was observed. The front moved just off shore and dissipated, supporting showers inland and over the south during the next four days.
The following two days, the fifteenth and sixteenth saw sunny and clear conditions, with no rainfall. No rainfall was observed on the seventeenth when yet another cold front made its way across the country. Cool and dry weather dominated on the eighteenth and nineteenth. It moved just off shore where it became stationary, lingering there through to the twenty-first. The proximity of the frontal system supported cloudy conditions across the country and light showers were observed mostly over central and northern areas.
On the twenty-second afternoon, a few light showers were observed over inland areas as yet another cold front approached the country. It crossed later that night with very little rainfall. It moved very quickly east and south of the country and the associated high-pressure ridge supported cool and dry conditions during the following four days.
On the twenty-seventh, another cold front approached the country. Pre-frontal activity was evident as isolated showers and an isolated thunderstorm over the Maya Mountains. The front quickly crossed the country on the twenty-eight evening with light showers and strong, gusty winds over some parts of the north.
The remaining three days of the month was uneventful. Cool and dry conditions prevailed.
In conclusion, five cold fronts crossed Belize during January 2016. Cool temperatures were recorded, but they were well within the normal range. All of the cold fronts were relatively dry and data analysis shows that rainfall for this month was well below the average for this time of the year.
Station January_2016 Normal (1981-2010)
Station
|
January_2016
|
Normal (1981-2010)
|
|
Libertad
|
37.6
|
59.4
|
|
Tower Hill
|
12.7
|
72.4
|
|
La Milpa
|
17.1
|
64.7
|
|
Philip Goldson Airport
|
62.3
|
152.6
|
|
St.Johns (Belize City)
|
87
|
128.6
|
|
Belize Zoo
|
65.8
|
134.9
|
|
Belmopan
|
59.8
|
125
|
|
Spanish Lookout
|
28.2
|
93.4
|
|
Baldy Beacon
|
96
|
224
|
|
Middlesex
|
57.5
|
171
|
|
Pomona
|
|
162.7
|
|
Melinda
|
47
|
157.9
|
|
Savannah Forest Stn
|
81.8
|
135.7
|
|
Punta Gorda Agri. Stn
|
42.6
|
146.3
|
|
|
|
|
|