| July 15, 2015 | No. 79 |
June 2015
The Palmira Station had a total of 13.96 inches of rain in the month of June. Our total for the year at the end of June was 22.89 inches. We are experiencing the rainy season although the numbers are not large. Things are looking green and the coffee plants look healthy and productive.
Here are the totals for June 2015 for various District of Boquete areas. Note that the highest rainfall occurred again at Lucero with 20.26 inches. The lowest was in Volcancito Arriba with 9.71 inches.
Rainfall for June 2015 |
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Area |
Contributors |
May |
Total for 2015 |
El Santuario |
Terry Zach |
13.08 |
29.52 |
Jaramillo Abajo |
Sela Burkholder |
13.34 |
28.02 |
Jaramillo Arriba |
Steve Sarner |
17.14 |
34.39 |
Los Molinos |
Fred Donelson |
N/A |
54.37 |
Los Naranjos |
Craig Bennett |
11.91 |
24.26 |
Volcancito Arriba |
Pat & Susan Farrell |
9.71 |
18.46 |
Valle Escondido |
Mark Huehnergard |
N/A |
N/A |
Lucero (Cielo Paraiso) |
Michael Mullin |
20.26 |
38.16 |
Palmira Arriba |
Lloyd Cripe |
13.96 |
22.89 |
n/a = not currently available |
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Looking ahead, check out the latest ENSO Cycle Report to see that we are now in El Niño conditions and "There is a greater than 90% chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2015-16, and around an 80% chance it will last through early spring 2016."
Basically in El Niño conditions here in Panama we tend to have dryer weather with possible drought and somewhat higher temperatures. In 1997 and 1998 when El Niño was very strong there was drought. Friends who lived here in Panama during that time tell me that there was significant drought that affected the entire country to include the Canal. Water levels got so low that there was concern about the operation of the Canal. You can read a United Nations report about the 1997-1998 El Niño impacts here. You can also read a general article about the vicious cycle of El Niño and La El Niña at this link.
The IRI (International Research Institute for Climate and Society (select South America from the Region menu) is reporting the precipitation predictions for July-August-September of 2015. Note they are predicting Below Normal precipitation for large areas of on either side of Panama (Yellow Boxes) at a 40% probability.
ETESA's, hydrology and meteorology section is predicting that we will have below normal precipitation during the month of July 2015. You can read their report for July 2015 at this link.
Although our rainfall is below normal so far during this year's rainy season, we are getting enough rain to keep things green and our agriculture working. At this point I am not worried about less rain. Some years we have too much. Who knows.
We still have several months remaining in the rainy season. It isn't over until the fat clouds finish their act. I recently grabbed a photo of clouds to the southeast reflecting the sunset light which reminds me that "It isn't over until the fat clouds sing and finish their final act." We are not yet close to the final act for this season. Sit back with your umbrellas ready and enjoy the rest of the show.
Lloyd Cripe