Dale C. S. Destin | The past 21 months, ending August, is the driest such period on record for Antigua, dating back to at least 1928, the furthest distance back for reliable data.
Since the heavens opened in November 2020, for the following 21 months – December 2020 to August 2022, drought reigns.
The island-average rainfall for the record dry period was 1179.3 mm (46.43 in). The previous record for the 21 months ending August was 1209.5 mm (47.62 in) set for December 2014 to August 2016.
The past 21-month period has also seen no month coming remotely close to exceeding 200 mm (8 in) of rainfall, with only one exceeding 100 mm (4 in). September 2022 has brought an end to that streak of months sub 200 mm.
The streak owes its end largely to the wettest day in over 21 months: September 17, 2022 amassed a one-day total of 45 to 119.8 mm (1.77 to 4.72 in), easily the wettest day in 676 days.
The one-day total at the V.C. Bird International Airport of 84.6 mm (3.33 in) was more than the total for every full month since November 2020, except September 2021.
Usually, 21 months ending August averages 1868.9 mm (73.58 in). This translates to only 65 percent of the normal rainfall falling since the November 2020 flash floods.
The rainfall total for the last 21 months was just 5.6 percent more than the annual total. The last 21 months almost had the same rainfall as what usually falls in 12 months.
The deficit of 659.4 mm (25.96 in), 35 percent, is more than the average for the first eight months of the year.
safetysteps.org 