Upcoming Rainy Season Could Add to Haiti's Woes
Mar 3, 2010; 4:10 PM ET
As Haiti continues to recover from January's devastating earthquake, a new danger looms for the island nation.
The rainy season is on its way for the Caribbean, but heavy rains and above-average precipitation have already caused problems.
Flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rains last weekend killed 13 people in Les Cayes, Haiti, a town about 100 miles southwest of earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince.
Port-au-Prince recorded about 0.6 inches of rain last weekend, with nearly a half inch of rain falling on Feb. 28 alone.
The Haitian capital also recorded 3.23 inches of rain in February, surpassing its average of 2 inches.
According to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno, storm fronts from the North American continent this time of year have the potential to stall over Hispaniola, the island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic.
More storms than usual have found their way to the Caribbean because of an active and more southerly storm track across the United States. This phenomenon is partially due to a weak El Niño.
Precipitation dramatically increases as the region enters the rainy season, with May being the nation's rainiest month. Average rainfall drops over the summer, and sees an increase when hurricane season starts.
According to AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist and Expert Long-Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi, the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be more active in the Caribbean and towards the United States.
Rayno also warns that another front is on its way to the Caribbean, which will increase the chance of showers towards the end of the week, although the majority of the rain will hit east of Haiti.
"This storm will bring opportunity for rain Thursday and Friday," he said. "Any amount of rain can cause problems."
The front should move eastward out of the region by Saturday.
Story by AccuWeather.com's Gina Cherundolo
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 86° | Thermal, CA |
| Low | 1° | Presque Isle, ME |
| Precip | 0.77" | Quillayute, WA |
WeatherWhys®
You will notice that snow melts quicker when the air is moist than when it is dry. Evaporation of any snow that melts when the air is dry readily cools the snow's surface, slowing the melting process. On the other hand, evaporation is slowed when the air is moist. The snow's surface cannot cool itself, causing melting to occur at a quicker rate.
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