Heavy Rainfall In The Caribbean Measured By IMERG

Heavy rainfall has recently caused widespread flooding and landslides in Jamaica. Occasional showers from trade winds are normal in Jamaica but recent rainfall from slow moving troughs have been unusually heavy. A 1009 mb low pressure center located in the western Caribbean was disrupting the normal trade winds over Jamaica today. 

Heavy Rainfall In The Caribbean Measured By IMERG

This rainfall analysis was constructed using data from NASA's Integrated Multi-satelliE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG). Data collected in near-real time were utilized in IMERG's rainfall accumulation estimates for the Caribbean. This analysis covers the period from May 13 through early May 17, 2017. Rainfall totals greater than 9.4 inches (239 mm) were shown by IMERG data extending from south of Jamaica to southwestern Haiti. Some rainfall totals of greater than 12 inches (304.8 mm) were estimated in the waters between Jamaica and southwestern Haiti. IMERG rainfall totals in this analysis have been adjusted to reflect observed values in other similar extreme rainfall events.

The Integrated Multi-satelliE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) is a unified U.S. algorithm that provides a multi-satellite precipitation product. IMERG is run twice in near-real time with the “Early” multi-satellite product being created at about 4 hours after observation time and a “Late” multi-satellite product is provided at about 12 hours after observation time.

Heavy Rainfall In The Caribbean Measured By IMERG

Images and caption by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)