This is released on behalf of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Annual rainfall totals are discussed at the end of the annual summary.

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WEATHER SYSTEMS

AFFECTING THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2018

January

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January 9^th2018. The system supported cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.56 measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport on January 9^th 2018.

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January 14^th2018. The associated high pressure system supported fresh to strong north to northeast winds and rough seas from January 13^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from January 13^th 2018 until January 16^th2018.

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January 18^th2018. The associated high pressure system supported fresh to strong northerly winds and rough seas from January 17^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from January 17^th 2018 until January 21^st 2018.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas from January 25^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from January 25^th 2018 until January 28^th 2018.

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January 30^th2018. The associated high pressure system supported fresh to strong northerly winds and rough seas from January 30^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from January 30^th 2018 until February 1^st 2018.

The total measured accumulation of 1.44 inches or 0.60 of an inch below the normal 2.04 inches of the 30 year average for January. 

February

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas from February 07^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from February 07^th 2018 until February 16^th 2018.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas from February 19^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from February 19^th 2018 until February 23^rd 2018.

The total measured accumulation of 0.61 of an inch or 0.89 of an inch below the normal 1.50 inches of the 30 year average for February.

March

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the southwestern United States supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas from March 27^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from March 27^th 2018 until March 29^th 2018.

The total measured accumulation of 0.29 of an inch or 1.03 inches below the normal 1.32 inches of the 30 year average for March.

April

No significant weather systems for April.

The total measured accumulation of 0.49 of an inch or 0.78 of an inch below the normal 1.27 inches of the 30 year average for April.

May

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough on May 14^th 2018 supported the development of daytime showers with an accumulation of 0.54 of an inch or rainfall measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough interacted with a surface trough to produce an area of cloudiness and showers over the northwest Caribbean on May 21^st2018. The system produced an accumulation of 3.84 inches on May 21^st 2018, 1.56 inches on May 22^nd 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the event.

Weather charts indicate that a broad area of low pressure formed west of the Cayman Islands on May 23^rd 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued marine warnings for the event and measured a rainfall accumulation of 0.71 of an inch on May 23^rd2018.

Weather charts indicate that Subtropical Storm Alberto formed west of the Cayman Islands on May 25^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued marine warnings for the event and measured a rainfall accumulation of 1.13 inches on May 25^th 2018 and 0.66 of an inch on May 28^th 2018.

The National Weather Service recorded 10.80 inches for the month or 4.84 inches above the long term average of 5.96 inches. The total was the highest May rainfall total since 2012.

June

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough interacted with a surface trough to produce an area of cloudiness and showers over the northwest Caribbean on June 12^th2018. The system produced an accumulation of 0.68 of an inch on June 12^th 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

The total measured accumulation of 2.34 inches for the month was 3.86 inches below the 30 year average for June of 6.20 inches.

July

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on July 11^th. The system produced an accumulation of 0.52 of an inch as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

The measured accumulation of 1.2 inches for the month was 4.58 inches below the 30 year average for July of 5.78 inches.

August

Weather charts indicate that an upper level low pressure system produce an area of cloudiness and showers over the northwest Caribbean over the Cayman area on August 3^rd2018. The system produced an accumulation of 1.31 inches on August 3^rd 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that an induced trough interacted produce cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on August 12^th 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 1.27 inches on August 12^th 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that an upper level low pressure system produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on August 20^th 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 1.12 inches on August 20^th 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on August 22^nd 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 0.56 of an inch on August 22^nd 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

The total measured accumulation of 5.81 inches for the month or 0.09 of an inch below the 30 year average for August of 5.90 inches.

September

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave and an upper level trough interacted to produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on September 9/10 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 3.41 inches and 2.64 inches on September 9^th and 10^th 2018 respectively as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on September 13 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 1.98 inches on September 13^th 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that the remnants of Tropical Storm Isaac produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on September 17/18^th 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 1.49 inches and 2.64 inches on September 17/18^th 2018 respectively as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

The total measured accumulation of 13.5 inches for the month was 4.76 inches higher than the 30 year average for September of 8.74 inches.

October

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on October 02 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 0.62 of an inch on October 02^nd 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that a low pressure system over the southwest Caribbean produced cloudiness and showers over the Cayman area on October 11 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 0.56 of an inch on October 11^th 2018 as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas from October 18-19^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from October 18-19^th 2018.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas from October 21-22^nd 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system from October 21-22^nd 2018.

The total measured accumulation of 3.12 inches for the month was 5.53 inches below the 30 year average for October of 8.65 inches.

The total rainfall amount for 2018 through the end of October is 39.50 inches with a deficit of 7.86 inches (30 year average through October is 47.36 inches).

November

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on November 5^th 2018. The system produced an accumulation of 0.98 of an inch on November 5^th as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the southern USA supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas from November 11-12^th 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine warning for the system for the period.

28-30

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on November 28^th2018. The system supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas from November 28-30^th2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the system for the period.

The total measured accumulation of 2.39 of an inch is 3.66 inches below the 30 year average for November of 6.05 inches.

December

Weather charts indicate that a strong cold front moved across the Cayman area on December 21^st 2018. The system supported fresh to strong northwest winds and very rough seas from December 20-31^st 2018. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued marine warnings for the system for the period. The Port and west coast of Grand Cayman was battered by large waves resulting in flooding of the main roads leading to road closures along portions of the capital.

The total measured accumulation of 1.56 inches is 1.23 inches below the 30 year average for December of 2.79 inches.

The total measured accumulation for 2018 was 43.45 inches or 12.75 inches below the 30 year average. The driest month of the year was February with 0.29 of an inch recorded and the wettest was September with 13.50 inches recorded. The annual rainfall graph can be seen below: