Annual summary of weather systems affecting the Cayman Islands 2016

January

Weather charts indicate that an inverted trough moved across the Cayman area on Jan 1 and produced a rainfall accumulation of 0.68 of an inch as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January 17^th. The system produced little or terms of rainfall but also produced fresh northerly winds and rough seas leading to the issuing of marine warnings from January 17^th until 27^th and the closure of the dock for a few days.

Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on Jan 30 and produced a rainfall accumulation of 0.92 of an inch as measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport. The system also produced fresh northerly winds and rough seas leading to the issuing of marine warnings and the closing of the dock.

The total measured accumulation of 2.28 inches or 0.24 of an inch above the normal 2.04 inches of the 30 year average for January.

February

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the Gulf of Mexico and supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from February 12-15^th 2016. The National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the event.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the southern US and supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from February 18-21^st 2016. The National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the event.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the Gulf of Mexico and supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from February 26-28^th 2016. The National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the event.

The total measured accumulation of 0.29 of an inch or 1.21 inches below the normal 1.50 inches of the 30 year average for February. This is the driest February since 2011.

March

Weather charts indicate that an upper level trough interacted with a weak cold front to produce cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area on March 5^th 2016. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service recorded 0.60 of an inch of rain on March 5^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the Gulf of Mexico and supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 7-11^th 2016. The National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the event.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the Gulf of Mexico and supported fresh to strong northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 22-23^rd 2016. The National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the event.

The total measured accumulation of 1.12 inches or 0.20 of an inch below the normal 1.32 inches of the 30 year average for March.

April

There were no significant weather events during the month of April.

The total measured accumulation of 0.48 of an inch or 0.79 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 over the northwest Caribbean produced cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area with an accumulation of 1.66 inches of rainfall measured at the Owen Roberts International Airport on May 29^th 2016.

The National Weather Service recorded 3.04 inches for the month or 2.92 inches below the long term average of 5.96 inches.

June

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on June 3^rd 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.74 of an inch on June 3^rd 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a mid to upper level trough supported daytime heating and resulted in the formation of cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.53 of an inch on June 28^th 2016.

The total measured accumulation of 3.6 inches for the month was 2.6 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 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.51 of an inch on July 11^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on July 22^nd 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 1.03 inches on July 22^nd 2016.

The measured accumulation of 3.83 inches for the month was 1.95 inches below the 30 year average for July of 5.78 inches.

August

Weather charts indicate that a strong tropical wave moving across the central Caribbean developed into Tropical Storm Earl by 12 p.m. on August 2^nd 2016. The Cayman Islands issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the system as it passed south of Grand Cayman that evening. The Cayman Islands expected only gusty winds and a few heavy showers associated with the system. The Cayman Islands recorded 0.60 of an inch of rainfall on August 5^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on August 11^th 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.53 of an inch on August 11^th 2016. The wave lingered over the northwest Caribbean as it interacted with an upper level trough to produce a further 0.78 of an inch on August 13^th 2016.

Satellite pictures indicate that the area of cloudiness and showers associated with Tropical Depression #9 spread into the northwest Caribbean and into the Cayman area. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service recorded 0.91 of an inch of rainfall on August 29^th 2016.

The total measured accumulation of 4.09 inches for the month was 1.81 inches below the 30 year average for August of 5.90 inches.

September

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on September 8^th 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.57 of an inch on September 8^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on September 21^st 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 2.39 inches on September 21^st 2016.

The total measured accumulation of 3.87 inches for the month was 4.87 inches lower than the 30 year average for September of 8.74 inches.

October

Weather charts indicate that cloudiness and showers associated with the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew produced a few showers in the Cayman area. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.53 of an inch of rainfall on October 8^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that surface trough moved across the Cayman area on October 15^th 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.73 of an inch on October 15^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that surface trough moved across the Cayman area on October 20^th 2016. The system produced cloudiness and showers with an accumulation of 0.59 of an inch on October 15^th 2016.

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the southeast USA supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the northwest Caribbean from October 24^th through the 28^th 2016. The National Weather Service issued marine advisories for the system. South of this high an inverted trough over the northwest Caribbean produced cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area. This system produced an accumulation of 1.05 and 1.60 inches of rainfall on October 26^th and 27^th respectively.

November

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman Islands from November 16^th to 26^th 2016. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued Marine Warnings for the period.

The total measured accumulation of 0.16 of an inch is 5.89 inches below the 30 year average for November of 6.05 inches.

December

Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman Islands from December 15^th to 31^st 2016. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued Marine Warnings for the period.

The total measured accumulation of 0.29 of an inch is 2.5 inches below the 30 year average for December of 2.79 inches.

For 2016 the total rainfall was 27.98 inches or 28.22 inches below the 30 year average rainfall of 56.20 inches. The total is the lowest since 1957 when records started.

Below is the rainfall graph for 2016.

The average temperature for 2016 was 28.4 C 83.1 F or 1.3 F above the 30 year average of 81.8 F. The all time record is 83.2 F in 2002/2003.

Below is the temperature graph for 2016.

Annual temperatures continue to rise. The annual temperature pattern over the past 30 years is shown below.

Evaluation of rainfall data for Cayman Brac indicates that the drought like conditions in Grand Cayman did not extend to Cayman Brac as rainfall totals were fairly high by their standards.

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