Met Office Officially Declares Start of 2022 Dry Season

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) is officially declaring the start of the 2022 Dry Season.

Key Messages:

• The 2022 Dry Season has officially started.
• Compared to last year’s record-breaking wetter than usual dry-season, the 2022 Dry Season is likely to produce less rainfall than usual overall, with below-average totals most likely.

Likely Impacts:

• Less rainfall than usual will reduce surface water flows and rain-fed water availability.
• Increase in surface dryness as the Season progresses will increase the potential for bush/grass/forest and landfill fires, which can deteriorate the air quality and stress persons with sensitive respiratory conditions.

The Met Office notes that ongoing climatic patterns/features, including the dominance of upper-level Westerly winds over the region, an intensified North Atlantic Sub-Tropical high pressure system that has expanded its reach Southward and deeper into the atmosphere, compared to two (2) weeks ago, along with a strengthened trade-wind inversion, which serves to limit deep clouds development, are present. Together, this configuration signals that the region has transitioned to its drier state, which is generally manifested by reduced moisture, increased stability, fewer deep clouds, less frequent rainfall, cooler temperatures, and stronger surface winds.

The latest Rainfall and Temperature Outlook for the 2022 Dry Season for Trinidad and Tobago is available at:
www.metoffice.gov.tt/rainandtemp