By Alva Solomon

GUYANA is, over the next few days, expected to experience occasional showers over coastal and inland areas, including the Rupununi, where periods of intermittent rainfall over recent days have been welcome occurrences.The Hydromet Service of the Agriculture Ministry says the weather forecast for the next three days includes cloudy skies with scattered showers over coastal and inland areas today, and partially cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered showers on Wednesday and Thursday. The current weather condition has seen decreases in the temperature during the day to as low as 17 degrees Celsius.

The Hydromet Service noted that the El Niño conditions do not imply that no rainfall is likely. The weather agency reported that El Niño dry weather conditions are expected to remain strong, with a gradual weakening through spring 2016 (March-June), and is expected to transition to an ENSO-neutral setting, which speaks of more favourable conditions for farming communities.

ENSO-neutral refers to the interaction between the atmosphere and ocean in the tropical Pacific that results in a periodic variation between below-normal and above-normal sea surface temperatures, and dry and wet conditions over the course of a few years.

According to spreadsheet data obtained from the Hydromet Service for February, coastal locations have thus far experienced several days of rainfall from February 10 onwards to February 14, while the Rupununi and other inland locations experienced a similar change in the weather during this period.

Significantly, February 10th saw a sharp rise in the rainfall, due mainly to the rains on that day; a significant 50mm of total rainfall was recorded at Lethem. The border community experienced an average of 60.9 mm of rainfall over the four-day period from February 8 to 11th, while the previous days of this month saw no rainfall. This information was corroborated by reports from residents on the ground.

Rainy days were also recorded for the similar period at Kumu village, a small Amerindian community which in recent times sought assistance to obtain potable water from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Lethem.

Further south of Lethem, the villages of Awaruranawa and Karudanawa have experienced periods of rainfall since the start of this month. Reports from those villages indicate intermittent rainfall during the past two weeks.

Elsewhere, the area near the Kaieteur Falls has been experiencing rainfall almost daily since the month started, while Hog Island in the Essequibo River and parts of the Mabaruma sub-Region experienced rainfall over extended periods during the past two weeks.

This may be good news for farmers along the Coastland and the inland areas, which have been hard hit by the El Nino dry weather phenomenon plaguing the country since last September.

On Monday, farmers in the Rupununi were out in the fields, planting crops which they were forced to place on hold because of the dry weather. At Aishalton, cassava farmers ventured into the farmlands as overcast conditions became evident. Toney James, the former village captain, reported that over the past week, there have been light rains across the community, with the vegetation “changing colour”, and many welcomed the change in the weather.

“The vegetation is greener than it was a month ago,” an upbeat James reported.

James said villagers have been desperate for water for their cattle, and on Monday villagers went some two miles out of the community, at an area called Kibenbaoko, seeking water for the herd.

He noted that another holding pen is being considered for the village herd further out of the community, but closer to a waterway. He explained that everyone in the village rears cattle in unison, and he has some six head in the herd. James said the sun-bees were buzzing around Aishalton, and this was a sign to villagers that rainfall is impending.

Further north at Annai, cloudy conditions were also reported, even as the community dug another well at the Annai compound to source potable water.

Overcast conditions were reported at mid-morning, a trend which was observed by residents over the past week. The communities there experienced rains for two full days this past week, while the level of the Rupununi River reportedly rose significantly in recent days.

Over 100 head of cattle, which belong to the Anglican Church at Annai and the villages nearby, were being led to areas where water was spotted.

Dry weather conditions have been parching parts of the country over the past 7 to 8 months, and the farming community has felt the brunt of the dry weather. Simultaneously, water levels in the conservancies across the country, including the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), have been impacted by the weather.

While Government has made interventions to cushion the effects of the weather, the Hydromet Service reported that, last month, the weather systems have been giving Guyana generally fair weather conditions with few showers.

Based on the predictions and current trends, similar conditions are expected to continue throughout the month of February.