` Issue: 63 ydrometeorological ervice of H S April 2018 Information Technolog y Solutions

Farmer’s Monthly Weather Bulletin

This bulletin is prepared by the Hydro meteorological Service of Guyana. We welcome feedback, suggestions and comments on this HIGHLIGHTS bulletin. Correspondences should be directed to: The Chief

Hydrometeorological Officer (Ag), and the Agronomist.  Near normal rainfall is expected for April through June.

 There are increased chances that night-time temperatures are

generally going to be warmer than normal for April through June.

 Daytime temperatures are expected to be cooler than normal for

April through June.

 A transition into the rainy season for both Northern and Southern

Guyana is expected by mid to the end of April.

 A general increase in the days with rainfall is expected as the

April-June season progresses.

 The probability of flooding in low lying areas will increase as the

season progresses.

 The probability for the increase of pest and diseases associated

with wetter conditions will increase as the season progresses.

 La Niña is expected to transition to ENSO-neutral conditions

during April to May 2018.

Rainfall Review for March 2018 For the month of March, generally Dry (D) conditions were experienced over most parts of Guyana. The highest monthly rainfall was recorded at Region 3, with a total of 124 mm of rainfall with 12 rain days. Boerasirie, Region 3 recorded the highest one-day rainfall total with a value of 59.0 mm on March 2, 2018. Region 9 was classified as very dry (VD) for the month of March. Most stations analysed recorded rainfall amounts below their long-term averages (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Comparison of the accumulated rainfall and the long-term Figure 2: Rainfall Distribution Map for March 2018 averages of selected stations for March 2018

Table 1: Regional Rainfall Classification for the Month of March 2018

Regions Regional Average Average Rain Classification Remarks (mm) days 1 57.1 9 days Very Dry (VD) recorded 38.3mm of rainfall with 9 rain days. 2 53.7 6 days Very Dry (VD) Better Hope, Essequibo recorded 25.8mm of rainfall with 3 rain days. 3 80.2 8 days Dry (D) Wakenaam recorded 47.7mm of rainfall with 3 rain days. 4 63.3 8 days Dry (D) St Cuthbert Mission recorded 31.0mm of rainfall with 8 rain days. 5 63.5 8 days Dry (D) Hope Town Back Dam recorded 36.4mm of rainfall with 7 rain days. 6 45.5 5 days Very Dry (VD) Spring Land Forestry recorded 17.3mm of rainfall with 3 rain days. 7 63.4 6 days Dry (D) Mongrippa Hill recorded 9.5mm of rainfall with 4 rain days. 8 Mahdia recorded 128.1mm of rainfall with 14 rain days.

9 10.6 3 days Very Dry (VD) Deer Creek recorded 2.0mm rainfall with 1 rain day

10 66 7 days Dry (D) 58 Miles Mabura Road 25.3 mm rainfalls with 6 rain days.

Sunshine Hours Review for March 2018 Georgetown, Region 4 recorded the highest monthly mean sunshine of 8.4 hours, along with the highest one-day sunshine of 11.1 hours on March 1, 2018. New Amsterdam, Region 6 recorded the lowest mean sunshine of 7.4 hours. All stations recorded mean sunshine hours above their long-term averages (Figure 3). 10 8 6 Mean Sunshine Hours Long -Term Averages 4

2 Sunshine (Hrs) 0 Georgetown New Amsterdam Lethem Station Figure 3: Comparison of the mean sunshine hours and the long-term averages of selected stations for March 2018.

Temperature Review for the month of March 2018 For the month of March, the highest one-day maximum temperature was recorded at Lethem, Region 9 with a value of 36oC on March 19, 2018. This station also recorded the highest mean maximum temperature of 34.30C for the month. Georgetown, Region 4 recorded the highest mean minimum temperature of 24.7oC. While, Timehri, Region 4 recorded the lowest daily temperature of 16.4oC on March 19, 2018 (Figures 4 & 5). 35

34 C ̊ 33 32 31 Maximum Temperature 30 Long-Term Averages 29

Temperature Temperature 28 27 Georgetown Timehri New Amsterdam Lethem Station

Figure 4: Comparison of the long-term averages and mean maximum temperatures of selected stations for March 2018 30

25

20

C ̊ 15

10 Minimum Temperature

5 Long-Term Averages Temperature Temperature 0 Georgetown Timehri New Amsterdam Lethem Station

Figure 5: Comparison of the long-term averages and mean minimum temperatures of selected stations for March 2018.

Seasonal Rainfall Outlook for Guyana (April-June 2018) Guyana is likely to receive near-normal rainfall for April through June. A general increase in rainfall is expected over most regions as the season progresses. An increase in the frequency of wet spells (consecutive days with rainfall) is also anticipated. In Figure 6 below the normal accumulated rainfall totals of selected stations for the April to June Season is represented and Figure 7 represents the normal rainfall of selected stations for the month of April.

Figure 6: Normal Accumulated Rainfall Distribution for the Figure 7: Normal Rainfall Distribution for the month of April. months of April- June.

Seasonal Temperature Outlook for Guyana (April-June 2018) For April through June, generally cooler than normal daytime and warmer than normal night-time temperatures over most parts of Guyana is expected. The average minimum and maximum temperatures of selected stations for the month of April are represented in Figures 8 and 9 below.

Figure 8: Average minimum temperatures of selected stations Figure 9: Average maximum temperatures of selected for the month of March. stations for the month of March.

Table 2: Average rain days for the months April-June of selected stations Station Name April May June 11 days 20 days 20 days 7 days 15 days 16 days Leonora 12 days 20 days 22 days Georgetown Botanical Gardens 12 days 20 days 22 days Timehri Meteorological Station 13 days 21 days 22 days Blairmont 13 days 18 days 20 days New Amsterdam 12 days 18 days 20 days 15 days 24 days 25 days Lethem 9 days 18 days 20 days McKenzie 13 days 19 days 23 days Ebini 15 days 20 days 20 days

Note: A rain day is considered as a day with rainfall >= 1mm.

Table 3: Average wet days for the months April-June of selected stations Station Name April May June Mabaruma 7 days 15 days 18 days Anna Regina 5 days 11 days 12 days Leonora 7 days 13 days 15 days Georgetown Botanical Gardens 7 days 12 days 14 days Timehri Meteorological Station 8 days 14 days 16 days Blairmont 8 days 12 days 13 days New Amsterdam 8 days 12 days 13 days Kamarang 8 days 16 days 18 days Lethem 7 days 11 days 14 days McKenzie 9 days 13 days 17 days Ebini 9 days 13 days 14 days

Note: A wet day is considered as a day with rainfall >= 5mm.

29 th New moon 22ndFirst quarter 8th Third Quarter 15th Full moon

Lunar calendar for April 2018

Table 4: SPRINGTIDE TABLE APRIL

APRIL HIGH TIDE ≥ 2.74m DATE TIME HEIGHT (m) 4/1/2018 4:40 3.17 16:48 3.09 4/2/2018 5:15 3.10 17:26 3.01 4/3/2018 5:47 2.98 18:02 2.89 4/4/2018 6:18 2.82 4/13/2018 2:21 2.75 14:45 2.83 4/14/2018 2:53 2.90 15:24 2.95 4/15/2018 3:25 3.03 16:05 3.03 4/16/2018 4:00 3.12 16:45 3.06 4/17/2018 4:35 3.15 17:27 3.04 4/18/2018 5:12 3.13 18:10 2.95 4/19/2018 5:51 3.05 18:57 2.82 4/20/2018 6:36 2.91 4/21/2018 7:28 2.74 4/26/2018 1:41 2.87 13:36 2.77 4/27/2018 2:24 3.01 14:26 2.86 4/28/2018 3:03 3.08 15:10 2.92 4/29/2018 3:40 3.10 15:51 2.94 4/30/2018 4:15 3.08 16:30 2.92

Source: The Maritime Administration Department

Possible implications of the Seasonal Outlook

 An increase in the probability of flooding in some low lying areas as the season progresses.

 Probability for the increase of pest and diseases associated with wetter conditions.  An increase in downpours as the season progresses.  A general increase in surface wetness is likely as the season progresses in some areas.

Farmers Advice for April 2018

For the month of April, farmers are encouraged to take heed of the advisories from their regional agriculturists or extension officers and to be vigilant and follow the Hydrometeorological Service’s daily and three-day forecasts via the radio on 56.0 AM and on our website at www.hydromet.gov.gy. The following should also be taken into consideration;

 Northern Guyana is expected to transition into its primary wet season by mid to the end of April 2018.  Farmers in the Rupununi Region should note that they are also expected to transition into their main rainfall season mid-April to early May.

Advice for Crop Farmers

 Harvest water during the wetter days of the season.  Change the timing of farm operations- adjust sowing and harvesting period to avoid negative effects of heavy downpours.  Water crops once the soil is dry.  Construct proper drainage for water runoff.  Cultivate seedlings under a shaded area to avoid damping off.  Maintain drains around crop beds and/or plant crops on raised beds.

Advice for Livestock Farmers

 House animals on high ground and/or on raised pens.  Store fertilizer, feeds and pesticides away from moisture and water sources.  Monitor livestock for pests and diseases associated with wetter conditions  Provide proper shelter for animals.

Fish farmers are advised to work closely with Fisheries Officers and report any issues that they may have.

A few recommended crops for the April to June rainfall season are as follows:

 Corilla  Muskmelon  Bora  Cabbage  Pumpkin  Eshallot  Pepper  Cucumber  Corn  Tomato  Squash  Sweet Potato  Lettuce  Boulanger

El Niño and La Niña Update

ENSO Alert System Status: La Niña Advisory  La Niña conditions are present.  Equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are below average across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.  La Niña is expected to transition to ENSO-neutral during the April-May, with ENSO-neutral then likely (greater than 50% chance) to continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer 2018.

Figure 10: ENSO Forecast for March through May 2018

La Niña Implications for Guyana

Normally, La Niña is associated with above average rainfall over most parts of Guyana. However, the current La Niña is weak, thus it will likely have less influence on Guyana’s rainfall than that which was observed with stronger events in the past.

Agricultural Review for March 2018

Generally, dry conditions were experienced over most Administrative Regions during the month. It was reported that some agricultural areas did not record as much rainfall as expected, thus some farmers were forced to irrigate their crops. The Rupununi area continued to be the driest region analyzed. However, no severe effect of the weather on agricultural production was reported to the Hydrometeorological Service.

Farmer of the Month THE

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL Name: Clifford Thom SERVICE OF GUYANA Age: 66 Farming Community: Kimbia

This is Mr. Clifford Thom a farmer who hails from the community of Kimbia,

which is located in Region 10. He has been farming since he was a teenager. He

18 Brickdam, Stabroek farms about 5-7 acres of land. Some of the crops under cultivation are:  Minica Georgetown, Guyana  Watermelon

 Peanuts

 Corn Telephone#: 592-261-2284

592-261-2216 Around these crops, he plants perennial crops such as:

 Lemon

 Orange (24 hours National Weather  Coconut Watch Centre numbers)

Or Beside crops, he also has a livestock farm where he rears animals such as: Visit our Website:  Cattle www.hydromet.gov.gy The major challenge that he faces in relation to crops are borers and corn heartworm infestation during the dry season. Most of his produce has a standard market, but he also has a kitchen garden where he plants seasoning for personal use.

A few pictures taken by the Agromet Staff on a visit to Mr. Thom’s farm.