Weekly Weather Outlook: March 12 - 19

Valid Time: March 12 – 19, 2012

Feature(s) of Interest:

The feature of interest this week will be a relatively stable and fresh Easterly to East-northeasterly airflow over the NW Caribbean, generated by broad west Atlantic High pressure system. This airflow will favour the influx of some moisture, favourable for a few showers here and there. The High Pressure system will weaken as we move into Thursday and Friday of this week, giving way to a seasonally drier and stable SE’ly airflow across Belize and the SW Gulf of Mexico. The fair and dry weather will become much more prevalent and warmer this coming weekend.

We can therefore expect generally breezy, fair and sunny weather through Thursday of this week with some brief daytime showers, especially in the central interior during the afternoon. It will become increasingly warmer and dry as we move into the weekend.

Daily rainfall accumulations during Monday through Thursday of this week will range from 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch, especially over central regions. Daily rainfall totals on Friday through the weekend and Monday next will amount to 0.01-0.10 of-an-inch over the central coast, and minimal elsewhere. In short, the 2012 Dry Season will continue across the nation over the next seven days.

fig-1-march-12 — Fig. 1 Surface map and GOES IR Satellite picture valid for 9:00 am, Monday, March 12, 2012, showing ridge of high pressure from the Atlantic into the NW Caribbean, generating a relatively stable ENE’ly airflow over Belize. Shallow rain clouds are evident over the east coast of Yucatan and Belize.

fig-3-march-12 — Fig. 3 NHC 72-hour forecast surface map valid for 6:00 pm Wednesday, March 14, 2012 showing broad, west Atlantic High pressure system and a weakening ridge of High pressure extending over the NW Caribbean. This pattern will be generating an ENE’y to E’ly airflow at first, which will veer to the Southeast later on Thursday and Friday.

fig-4-march-12 — Fig. 4 GFS Model 850 mb (5,000 ft) level 120 hour vorticity projection valid for 6:00 am Saturday, Mar. 17, 2012, showing weakening west Atlantic High generating seasonally dry and stable South-easterly (SE’ly) airstream over Belize and the SW Gulf of Mexico. No major spinning cyclonic vortex (yellow shaded closed lows) are forecast over the NW Caribbean for next Saturday.

Belize Five-day Outlook for Agriculture and Industry…

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sunday
Mar. 12, 2012	Mar. 13, 2012	Mar. 14, 2012	Mar. 15, 2012	Mar. 16, 2012	Mar.17, 2012	Mar. 18, 2012
Sunny with cloudy spells and mild. Few showers mainly over central areas Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch	Sunny with cloudy spells and mild. Few showers mainly over central areas Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch	Sunny with cloudy spells and warmer. Few showers mainly over central coast Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch	Sunny and warm. Isolated showers Rainfall: 0.01-0.10 of-an-inch	Sunny and warm. Isolated showers Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch	Sunny and warm. Isolated showers Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch	Sunny and warm. Isolated showers Rainfall: 0.10-0.25 of-an-inch mostly central coast

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sunday

Mar. 12, 2012

Mar. 13, 2012

Mar. 14, 2012

Mar. 15, 2012

Mar. 16, 2012

Mar.17, 2012

Mar. 18, 2012

Sunny with cloudy spells and mild. Few showers mainly over central areas