DROUGHT RELIEF could soon be on the way for Barbadians as El Niño continues to weaken.
Chief of Applied Meteorology and Climatology at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman, told the SUNDAY SUN that the drier conditions caused by El Niño in 2015 could continue until May.
“So basically what we’re saying is that the impacts of the drought itself will probably not abate until closer to the end of May or even later.
“The good news is that the period April to June is forecasted to be wetter than normal. However, much of that wetness is expected in the later part of that three-month period,” he said.
Trotman said the forecast rainfall could benefit local farmers, but was cautious about saying whether it would be enough to replenish the aquifers.
“Certainly, as the El Niño weakens it allows for greater cloud development with time and greater rainfall. So the higher water availability we expect would be [good] for farmers, or anybody, for that matter.
“The ability to farm will certainly increase with time but the replenishment of our aquifers would take a little bit longer,” he said.
The agrometrologist cautioned against “over-excitement” regarding the forecast increase in rainfall.
Trotman explained that during the July to September rainy season, rainfall could be less than “normal”.
“Although the wet season would appear to start in those three months . . . we are seeing signs that it might not be as wet as it could be. It might have to do with the westward propagating waves that might not yield as much.” (LT)
