Climate
The climate of St. Kitts and Nevis is classified as tropical marine with a wet and a dry season. Generally, steady northeast trade winds and tropical oceanic cyclonic movements influence it. Furthermore, the islands enjoy warm even temperatures with a mean of approximately 24–27 °C (75.2–80.6 °F) and the humidity is low at 71%. Seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature are small. Rainfall is mainly orographic and increases in amount and frequency with the altitude. Except for the Southeast Peninsula which is very dry, mean annual rainfall ranges from about 16 inches (406 mm) in the coastal areas, to about 60 inches (1,524 mm) in the central mountain ranges but, from May to October rainfall is heavier while temperatures are a little hotter.
Although the hurricane season officially lasts from June to November, most hurricanes hit during August–November. The 1998 & 1999 Atlantic hurricane season produced 3 hurricanes which battered St.Kitts & Nevis.
Hurricane Georges in 1998 produced strong winds of up to 115 mph (185 km/h) while passing over St.Kitts, downing power lines, telephone lines, and trees across the island. Lack of electricity resulted in damage to water facilities, as well. Georges's high winds caused extensive property damage, damaging 80-85% of the houses on the island, and destroying 20-25% of homes. Many schools, businesses, hospitals, and government buildings lost their roofs, while the airport experienced severe damage to its main terminal and control tower, limiting flights to the daytime. St. Kitts' economy was disrupted from severe agricultural losses, including the devastation of 50% of their sugar crop. In addition, damaged hotels and piers created a long-term impact through lack of tourism - an industry the island relies on. In all, Hurricane Georges caused 5 fatalities, left 3,000 homeless, and resulted in $445 million (1998 USD) in damage on the island. Nevis fared better. Like on St. Kitts, high winds downed power and telephone lines, damaging the water system there. 35% of homes on the island were damaged, though none were destroyed. Rainfall and debris killed several hundred livestock and seriously damaged coconut trees, amounting to $2.5 million (1998 USD) in agricultural damage. There were no casualties reported on the island, and damaged amounted to $39 million (1998 USD).
Hurricane Jose in 1999 cause minor damage because the hurricane passed northward and flooding was the principal hazard as several main roads were washed out and landslides were reported. Rainfall were 12 to 15 inches (305 to 381 mm).
Also in 1999, Hurricane Lenny became the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in the month of November. Hurricane Lenny's storm track was unique in the recorded history of hurricanes. It started life tracking across the Atlantic as a tropical depression and tropical storm in the normal direction (east to west). Then it stalled, changed direction completely, became hurricane-strength and progressing west-to-east through the Caribbean Sea. This triggered storm surge, strong winds, and 12-foot (3.7 m) waves on the more vulnerable western coasts of St. Kitts and Nevis, causing significant beach erosion and flooding. Lenny dumped 20–25 inches (508–635 mm) of rain.
Read more about this topic: Geography Of Saint Kitts And Nevis
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“Russian forests crash down under the axe, billions of trees are dying, the habitations of animals and birds are layed waste, rivers grow shallow and dry up, marvelous landscapes are disappearing forever.... Man is endowed with creativity in order to multiply that which has been given him; he has not created, but destroyed. There are fewer and fewer forests, rivers are drying up, wildlife has become extinct, the climate is ruined, and the earth is becoming ever poorer and uglier.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“A tree is beautiful, but what’s more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees. Forests create climate, climate influences peoples’ character, and so on and so forth. There can be neither civilization nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe, if the climate is harsh and severe, if people are also harsh and severe.... What a terrible future!”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“When we consider how much climate contributes to the happiness of our condition, by the fine sensation it excites, and the productions it is the parent of, we have reason to value highly the accident of birth in such a one as that of Virginia.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)