Dale C. S. Destin – In the span of two months, Antigua experienced a meteorological rollercoaster, going from a near-record-breaking wet October to a near-record-breaking dry November.
With an island-average total of 25.7 mm (1.01 in), November 2023 has emerged as the second driest such month on record. It fell just short of the historic low set back in 1947, a testament to the remarkable climatic anomaly witnessed. Let’s dig into the details of this significant climate abnormality.
This dramatically dry November followed on the heels of a wonderfully wet October which amassed a rainfall total of 364.2 mm (14.34 in). It ranks as the second wettest October on record almost overhauling the record set in 2008.
The drastic shift in rainfall, from an extremely wet October to an extremely dry November, represents the largest negative swing or change in rainfall from October to November i.e., November minus October rainfall (25.7 mm – 364.2 mm = -338.6 mm or -13.33 in).
This also represents the fourth-largest negative swing of any consecutive months. Only three other times has the rainfall dropped off more precipitously from one month to the next.
Meanwhile, the absolute staggering swing of 338.6 mm (13.33 in) is the second largest overall between October and November and the sixth largest of any two consecutive months, as revealed by the rainfall record, which started in 1928.
The absolute largest swing on record between the two months is 347.0 mm (13.66 in), owed to Hurricane Lenny of 1999. The record largest swing of any two months is 463.8 mm (18.26 in), April and May of 1987. On average, the October/November swing is a slim positive 6.9 mm (0.27 in).
safety steps 
Leave a comment