| March 02, 2011 | No. 39 |
I posted the February 2011 weather data for the Palmira Weather Station. Here in Palmira we had a total of less than an inch of rain (0.54 inches). Terry Zach in El Santuario (just north of Bajo Boquete) manually measured 3.5 inches of rain for February and Craig Bennett in Los Naranjos (just north of the Ruiz coffee shop) measured 1.2 inches of rain. Looks like the Palmira area received less moisture.
March started with some much needed rain (0.91 inches), but today is sunny and windy. We typically get a few days of rain in March. Last year we had 3.52 inches and in 2009 we had over 5 inches. In 2008 we had only 1.14 inches in March. We also continue to have considerable wind in March. I asked the attendants at the gas station in Alto Boquete which is the windiest month. They are always wearing heavier windbreaker jackets than normal and are located where the wind howls. Without hesitation they said "March." As the soothsayer warned Julius Caesar, "Beware of the Ides of March."
In the article Understanding Boquete Weather and Climate, I talked about the winds in the District of Boquete and quoted a naturalist Henry Pittier regarding his explorations in Chiriqui and his trip to Boquete in March of 1911. If you haven't read this, take a look here. Wind is no stranger to this area.
Don't worry, we will have a lot of nice days in March and the plants will enjoy having parched roots moistened. Our introduction to the rainy season will be gradual.
The ENSO continues to be in the La Niña phase. La Niña is expected to gradually weaken into a neutral phase by July. Here is link to the latest La Niña report. Here is a link to a more comprehensive report. You can monitor this and get weekly updates at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center at this link.
The IRI (International Research Institute for Climate and Society) is reporting generally normal precipitation for Central America March through May. Here is the graph that they published in February 2011:
You will need your umbrellas upon occasion this month but not real often. You should however have Dr. Charles Browne Fleet's invention handy!
Lloyd Cripe