The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) is officially declaring the start of the 2022 Wet Season for Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the TTMS, the official start to the wet season is triggered by measurable rainfall produced by a Tropical Wave or the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Climatologically, Trinidad and Tobago’s Wet Season can extend into December before completely transitioning into the Dry Season in January.
The Met Office said the Tropical Wave that triggered the start of the 2022 Wet Season moved across the country on Sunday, May 15th, 2022, into Monday, May 16th, 2022, and produced rainfall over several areas. They added that while this was the fourth Tropical Wave the TTMS tracked that moved off the west coast of Africa and traversed the Tropical Atlantic, it is the first one to affect Trinidad and Tobago.
As of 8 AM on Monday, May yielded rainfall totals of 28.5 millimeters which amounted to 23 percent of May’s average total rainfall of 124 millimeters. The TTMS says the remainder of May is likely to continue with below-average rain across most areas.
While the Wet Season has begun, the Met Office says, “At this time, there are no Tropical Waves over the Tropical Atlantic, so no wave activity is expected for at least the next week or so. Currently, the ITCZ remains south of latitude 5˚N, but is expected to gradually migrate northward as the month progresses.”
The TTMS advises, “With the current La Niña phase, this means favorable conditions for increased cloudiness and rainfall. However, the ongoing La Niña has influenced the local climate in an unusual way, but there is likely to be a slow build-up to the wet season rainfall.”
High Wind Alert Discontinued
With the passage of this first Tropical Wave, a surge of winds was expected to follow overnight Sunday into Monday, prompting the Met Office to issue a High Wind Alert for both islands. Strong winds in excess of 55 KM/H were possible, but the highest wind gust recorded was 45 KM/H at Piarco at 3:00 PM, before the High Wind Alert period. The highest sustained winds at Piarco was 34.5 KM/H, while at Crown Point, it was 33.7 KM/H.
On Monday at 10:00 AM, the High Wind Alert was discontinued. According to the TTMS, “The threat of wind gusts in excess of 55 KM/H has diminished. Few showers and occasional breezy periods can still be expected today. Sea conditions remain moderate, with waves in open waters up to 2.5 metres and less than 1.0 metre in sheltered areas. Spring tides are also in effect.“
Reporter: Kalain Hosein