ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WEATHER SYSTEMS
AFFECTING THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2014
January
Weather charts indicated that a cold front moved to the Cayman area and became
stationary on January 3rd 2014. The system supported cloudiness and a rainfall
accumulation of 1.10 inches measured by the Cayman Islands National Weather
Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Satellite pictures confirm that patches of cloudiness associated with fresh easterly winds
caused by a high pressure system over the Atlantic moved across the Cayman area.
The passage of this cloudiness resulted in an accumulation of 0.52 of an inch measured
by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International
Airport on January 9th 2014.
Weather charts indicated that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on January
15th 2014. The system supported fresh north-northwest winds, rough seas, cloudiness
and a rainfall accumulation of 1.93 inches measured by the Cayman Islands National
Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport. The rough seas also
resulted in the closing of the port.
Weather charts indicated that an old quasi-stationary front lingered over the northwest
Caribbean for a few days as it gradually dissipated. The system resulted in cloudiness
and a rainfall accumulation of 1.14 inches measured by the Cayman Islands National
Weather Service at the Owen Roberts International Airport on January 21st 2014.
The total measured accumulation of 5.93 inches or 3.89 inches above the normal 2.04
inches of the 30 year average for January. The total was the third wettest January since
records began in 1957 and the highest since the record year of 2003.
February
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported
fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from February 16-19
2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a Small Craft Advisory for
the time period. The associated cold front moved across the Cayman area on February
15th 2014 but supported little to no rainfall.
The total measured accumulation of 0.61 of an inch or 0.89 of an inch below the normal
1.50 inches of the 30 year average for February.
March
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported
fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 1-2 2014.
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a Small Craft Advisory for the
time period.
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported
fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 14 2014.
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a Small Craft Advisory for the
time period.
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported
fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 26-27 2014.
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a Small Craft Advisory for the
time period.
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico supported
fresh northeast winds and rough seas across the Cayman area from March 31 2014.
The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a Small Craft Advisory for the
time period.
The total measured accumulation of 0.37 of an inch or 0.99 of an inch below the normal
1.36 inches of the 30 year average for March.
April
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system lingered over the Gulf of Mexico
from late March. The system continued to support fresh northeast winds and rough seas
through April 2nd 2014. The National Weather Service issued marine advisories for the
event.
Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area on April 8 th
2014. The system supported fresh northerly winds and rough seas across the Cayman
area from April 9-11, 2014. The National Weather Service issued marine advisories for
the event.
Weather charts indicated that a surface trough produced cloudiness and showers with
an accumulation of 1.67 inches measured at Owen Roberts International Airport, as it
moved across the Cayman area on April 12 2014.
The total measured accumulation of 2.30 inches or 1.03 inches above the normal 1.27
inches of the 30 year average for April.
May
Weather charts indicated that an inverted trough moved across the Cayman area during
the evening of May 11th 2014. The system supported cloudiness and showers with an
accumulation of 0.81 of an inch measured at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Weather charts indicated that a stationary front over across Cuba which later
deteriorated to a shear line over the area produced on May 18/19- 0.65 /1.15 inches of
rainfall respectively measured at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Weather charts indicated that an inverted trough over the NW Caribbean supported by a
polar trough contributed to rainfall accumulation of 1.05 in as recorded at ORIA on May
21st.
The National Weather Service recorded 4.20 inches for the month or 1.76 inches below
the long term average of 5.96 inches.
June
Weather charts indicated that the passage of a tropical wave across the Cayman area
on June 6th lead to rainfall accumulation of 1 inch as recorded at ORIA.
Weather charts indicated that mid-level trough which extending across the NW
Caribbean lead to 1.42 inches of rainfall as recorded at ORIA on June 8th.
Weather charts indicated that an inverted trough moving across the Cayman area lead
to rainfall accumulation of 1.61 inches as recorded at ORIA on June 30th.
The total measured accumulation of 4.63 inches for the month was 1.57 inches lower
than the 30 year average for June of 6.20 inches.
July
Weather charts indicated that a surface trough moved through the Cayman area on July
23th which led to rainfall accumulation of 0.69 inches as recorded at ORIA.
Weather charts indicated that the passage of a tropical wave across the Cayman area
on July 26th which led to rainfall accumulation of 1.68 inches as recorded at ORIA.
The measured accumulation of 2.64 inches for the month was 3.14 inches lower than
the 30 year average for July of 5.78 inches.
August
Weather charts indicated that mid to upper-level trough which extending across the NW
Caribbean led to rainfall accumulation of 0.62 inches on August 4th as recorded at ORIA
Weather charts indicated that the passage of a tropical wave across the Cayman area
on August 7th led to rainfall accumulation of 1.07 inches as recorded at ORIA
Weather charts indicated that upper level low over the NW Caribbean led to rainfall
accumulation 0.61 inches on August 11th as recorded at ORIA
Weather charts indicate that a tropical wave moved across the Cayman area on August
30th 2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service measured 0.65 of an inch of
rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on August 30th 2014.
The total measured accumulation of 4.81 inches for the month was 1.09 inches below
the 30 year average for August of 5.90 inches.
September
Weather charts indicate an upper level low pressure system supported cloudiness and
showers over the Cayman area on September 9th 2014. The Cayman Islands National
Weather Service measured 0.88 of an inch of rainfall at Owen Roberts International
Airport on September 9th 2014.
Weather charts indicate that an upper level low pressure system interacted with a
tropical wave to produce cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area on
September 22nd 2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service measured 2.30
inches of rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on September 22 nd 2014.
Weather charts indicate that an upper level low pressure system lingered over the
Cayman area and supported cloudiness and showers across the Cayman area on
September 25th 2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service measured 1.17
inches of rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on September 25th 2014.
Weather charts indicate that daytime heating resulted in cloudiness and showers across
the Cayman area on September 27th 2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather
Service measured 0.67 of an inch of rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on
September 27th 2014.
The total measured accumulation of 6.58 inches for the month was 2.16 inches lower
than the 30 year average for September of 8.74 inches.
October
Weather charts indicate that cloudiness and showers spread across the northwest
Caribbean in association with the formation of Tropical Depression #9 on October 21 st
2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service measured 0.84 of an inch of
rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on October 21st 2014.
Weather charts indicate that cloudiness and showers spread across the northwest
Caribbean in association with a cold front and its interaction with the remnants of TS
Hanna on October 24-25th 2014. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service
measured 3.30 inches of rainfall at Owen Roberts International Airport on October
24/25th 2014 and 1.07 inches as a result of lingering moisture from a dissipating front to
the east of the Cayman area on October 27th 2014.
The total measured accumulation of 6.71 inches is 1.94 inches below the 30 year
average for October of 8.65 inches.
November
Weather charts indicate that a cold front became stationary over the Cayman area on
November 2nd 2014. The associated high pressure system moved over the southern
United States by that time and supported fresh north-northeast winds and rough seas
across the Cayman area. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service issued a
marine advisory for the period November 2-5th 2014.
Weather charts indicate that a cold front became stationary over the Cayman area on
November 11th 2014. The system supported cloudiness and showers over the Cayman
area with an accumulation of 0.63 of an inch measured at the Owen Roberts
International Airport.
Weather charts indicate that a high pressure system built over the Gulf of Mexico
behind a diffused front. This system supported fresh to strong northeast winds and
rough seas across the Cayman area from November 27-30th 2014. The Cayman Islands
National Weather Service issued a marine advisory for the period.
The total measured accumulation of 1.98 inches is 4.07 inches below the 30 year
average for November of 6.05 inches.
December
Weather charts indicate that a cold front moved across the Cayman area and became
stationary east of the area by December 11th 2014. The system supported cloudiness
and showers with an accumulation of 1.47 inches measured at the Owen Roberts
International Airport on December 11th 2014
The total measured accumulation of 1.81 inches is 0.98 of an inch below the 30 year
average for December of 2.79 inches.
Total rainfall for 2014 was 41.92 inches or 14.28 inches below the long term average of
56.20 inches. Evaluation of the graph below showing the 2014 rainfall accumulation
against the 30 year averages show below average rainfall totals from May through the
end of the year as well as February. The annual total represents the 6 th driest year since
records started in 1957.
Evaluation of the graph below showing the 2014 Monthly Average Temperatures in Deg
F against the 30 year Monthly Average Temperatures in deg F shows a similar pattern
to the long term. The 2014 Annual Average Temperature shows an increase of 0.6 deg
F.