As the region moves into the heart of its dry season, rainfall will continue to decrease, says the Barbados -based Caribbean Drought Precipitation Monitoring Network (CDPMN)

The organization said today in its latest Caribbean Drought Bulletin that with the likelihood of normal to below normal rainfall in the northwest of the Caribbean during February to April 2023, this can, over Cuba in particular, result in a short and long-term drought, by the end of April and May respectively.

It said, like Cuba, interests in Hispaniola, parts of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and St Vincent should closely monitor their water resources over the coming months since long-term drought can impact large rivers and groundwater.

For the last three months of 2022, apart from Barbados which was slight to moderately dry, rainfall throughout the eastern Caribbean was normal to above normal, according to the Caribbean Drought Precipitation Monitoring Network.

But there’s good news for the twin island state as the report said that short-term drought up to the end of March, is evolving across Western Cuba and that short-term drought might develop in Antigua, Eastern Cuba, Guadeloupe, Northern Hispaniola, Southwest Puerto Rico, and St. Kitts.

CDPMN said long-term drought, up to the end of May, might develop or continue in St. Vincent, Western Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.

“Areas ending in long-term drought by the end of May are likely to experience lower than usual water levels in large reservoirs, large rivers, and groundwater,” the CDPMN warned, adding “we advise all stakeholders to keep monitoring their environment for signs of drought” CDPMN added