Monthly Weather Summary

NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE OF BELIZE

Weather conditions commenced with cloudy skies produced by considerable mid and high level clouds produced from thunderstorms which developed west and north of Belize. Late in the afternoon a solitary thunderstorm developed over the Maya Mts.The surface analysis defined a surface trough over the Bay of Campeche and inland to northern Mexico. A 1016hPa surface high was over the northeast Gulf of Mexico with a ridge south to the western Caribbean and Belize. The surface flow over Belize was east to southeasterly.

The southeasterly flow continued to Wednesday (Apr.4^th).The surface analysis showed a dissipating surface high east of the Bahamas. A broad thermal trough/low persisted over mainland Mexico to northern Guatemala. The trough aided the development of a few thunderstorms in the north and south over mountainous Belize at the start of Thursday (Apr.5^th). On Friday morning surface charts showed a cold front entering the northern Gulf of Mexico. By evening, the cold front extended across southern Florida and the central Gulf of Mexico. At midday, Saturday (Apr.7^th) the cold front extended southwest across the Bahamas and western Cuba to the northeast Yucatan Peninsula. The surface flow over the northwest Caribbean and Belize was a light westerly. On Sunday morning (Apr.8^th) the cold fronts extended across the tropical Atlantic to the south coast of eastern Cuba before becoming stationary and diffuse to the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. A continental surface high over northern Florida ridged south to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. This feature combined with a slack pressure gradient produced a light easterly flow over Belize.

April 2012 Rainfall Summary (mm)

n/a-not available.

On Monday (Apr.9^th) evening a broad surface trough developed over the northwest Caribbean northwest to the Yucatan Peninsula and the central Gulf of Mexico. This feature supported showers and thunderstorms on the windward slopes of the Maya Mts. as well as over northern coastal areas. Isolated showers occurred over southern Belize. On Wednesday (Apr.11^th) more coastal showers occurred. A cold front was aligned almost east-west across the northern Gulf of Mexico, while a continental surface high ridged south across the Gulf of Mexico. The surface flow over the northwest Caribbean was a light east to northeasterly. Thursday’s weather turned out mostly sunny. The center of the surface high inched towards the United States east coast Friday morning(Apr.13^th) while pushing a cold front further southeast across the Bahamas and southern Florida. The center of the surface high lingered just off the United States coast on Saturday(Apr.14^th).Ridging from the high across the eastern Gulf of Mexico tightened the pressure gradient over the western Caribbean and Belize. Surface winds increased to a moderate easterly. Early Sunday morning the Belize radar detected showers which invaded southern Belize from the west and southwest. The surface flow veered to the southeast and remained quite gusty.

The southeasterly flow continued to produce good weather into Monday (Apr.16^th). On Tuesday, however, the morning sounding showed signs of an increase in moisture. Belize radar located showers clustered mainly in the north and across the border during the morning. Later, small showers were noted over western and southern Belize. Surface charts showed a cold front over the western Gulf of Mexico. The front reached the Bay of Campeche on Wednesday morning and became stationary. The Belize sounding for Apr.18^th appeared very moist from the surface to upper levels and indices suggested unstable conditions. Virtually the entire day was cloudy and several coastal showers occurred. Showers remained offshore and along northern coastal areas during the afternoon, before re developing again at nighttime. Considerable rain occurred along coastal Belize Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. The front remained stationary over the Yucatan Peninsula and northern Guatemala on Thursday. By evening, most showers had dissipated. A light and stable southeasterly flow emerged to produce hot and dry weather for Friday (Apr.20^th).Surface charts defined the stationary front as a surface trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico extending northeast across central Florida. Another cold front near the Gulf coast of Texas was poised to enter the northwest Gulf of Mexico. The front headed southeast across the Gulf of Mexico during Saturday(Apr.21^st) .Northwesterly surface winds developed during the morning across the country as hot daytime temperatures generated shower cells over mainland portions of the country. By evening several showers and isolated thunderstorms developed both over land and along northern coastal waters. The front crossed the country early Sunday morning.

Cool weather prevailed into the final full week in April. A well-formed high pressure system with center over the western Gulf of Mexico ensured cool and dry weather through Tuesday. Another surge of cool air produced by a secondary front produced the coolest temperatures during the week. The International Airport  recorded 17.9°C/64°F on Tuesday morning, while Tower hill  measured 15.3°C and Baldy Beacon (elev.-1020m) the lowest with 12.8°C. The Belize sounding for that morning displayed westerly winds from the surface to upper levels. Inversion layer near 700hPa meant limited room for deep vertical cloud growth. A high pressure ridge with center over the central Gulf of Mexico ensured maintained generally good weather for Belize. On Thursday(Apr.26^th) a surface trough linked to a low over the southern Caribbean was generating several showers and thunderstorms. As the surface trough lifted north during the weekend it influenced a light northeasterly flow over Belize. Otherwise, our weather remained quite warm (hot?) and mostly dry to the final day in April.