by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—St. Kitts and Nevis has been under a drought warning that is expected to persist through the end of November.
Despite being in the traditional Atlantic wet season, the Federation has faced prolonged rainfall deficits, receiving less than half of its typical long-term precipitation.
Data collected by the St. Kitts Meteorological Services showed the islands received only 8.66 inches of rain through May, a 44% drop from the 15.5-inch long-term average.
The traditional rainy season has failed to deliver relief. For example, the start of June brought a microscopic 0.05 inches of rain compared to the historical monthly average of 3.41 inches.
Vincere Benjamin, Level 1 Meteorological Technician at the St. Kitts Meteorological Services, during a recent broadcast of the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) ‘From Danger to Safety’, spoke of the impact of the dry season on the Federation.
“Although we are currently in the wet season, conditions have remained unusually dry. From January to June, the Federation received approximately 234 millimetres of rainfall, which is about 50% below the long-term average for this period. And this data is recorded from the airport station. So the effects are visible across the country. Instead of lush green vegetation that we typically expect at this time of the year, many areas are brown and dusty due to the prolonged lack of rainfall. The dry conditions are being influenced by the El Niño pattern, which suppresses rainfall, along with the frequent Saharan dust intrusion. These patterns limit cloud development and rainfall. The current regional outlooks indicate that rainfall may remain below normal for much of the remainder of the wet season. So drought conditions are expected to continue unless we receive significant rainfall from the tropical systems.”
The suppression of rainfall and surge in warmer temperatures have been heavily driven by regional climate shifts tied to the El Niño phenomenon and broader climate change.
“The data shows that the rainfall has been significantly below average throughout the year. As of the end of June, we recorded about 234 millimetres of rainfall. Last year, we recorded 396 millimetres, whereas normally we would receive over 400 millimetres by this point in the year. This prolonged shortage of rainfall is why we are seeing worsening drought conditions across the Federation.”
Diminished surface water is forcing the country to rely heavily on underground wells. This places critical pressure on aquifers, which are not replenishing quickly enough to meet demand.
NEMA and the government have launched aggressive water conservation campaigns to manage reserves.
“For St Kitts and Nevis, CariCOF’s latest outlook indicates that a short-term drought warning should be considered through to September, based on the six-month standardised precipitation index. In addition, a long-term drought warning remains in effect through to November, based on the 12-month rainfall deficit. Previously, a drought emergency was considered for St Kitts and Nevis due to the potential severe rainfall shortages in the early part of the hurricane season.”
With the search and operationalisation of additional wells and the introduction of the Basseterre Desalination Plant, some of the water woes have been mitigated.
However, Local authorities have warned that prolonged dryness poses immediate threats to crop production, livestock, and general economic health.
“Drought impacts extend well beyond the rainfall statistic. In the short term, reduced rainfall lowers soil moisture, placing crops under stress, reducing agricultural productions and limiting pasture availability for livestock. Vegetation also becomes much drier, which increases bushfires. For drought conditions that persist over a longer period, groundwater supplies, reservoirs and other water resources can also be affected, placing greater pressure on our country’s water supplies. While rainfall associated with the tropical systems could provide some relief, sustained and widespread rainfall will be needed before drought conditions are fully improved. In the meantime, water conservation remains extremely important and the public is encouraged to use water responsibly while we continue to closely monitor conditions and keep you updated.”
The region faces the unique challenge of preparing for severe tropical storms and hurricanes during the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season while simultaneously managing a historic water crisis.
