Is iffy weather in May normal due to change in winds?

TropicAtHeart · Post by **TropicAtHeart** » Fri May 13, 2011 10:10 am

I see there seems to be a lot of rain coming up from S. America toward the islands. Is that normal for May? It seems like its a cycle. How is the weather expected to be next week and week after? I just keep seeing the same swirling of moisture coming up out of the south/southwest toward the islands, bring clouds and moisture over and over. Obviously, a few breaks here and there, but certainly no solid blue skies if that pattern continues.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Fri May 13, 2011 10:30 am

Perfectly normal for this time of year. As I have said in the past we always receive 7-10 days of continual solid cloud cover and/or rain every year in either April or May (and again in October or November) - you just never know which month or what week (I wish I did I could be rich

).

Pia

kristen1206 · Post by **kristen1206** » Fri May 13, 2011 10:46 am

I hope it has been getting it out of its system this week then!

augie · Post by **augie** » Fri May 13, 2011 1:21 pm

Pia,

Judging from our recent track record, you can expect this year's October cycle to occur some time between the 4th and the 18th!

TropicAtHeart · Post by **TropicAtHeart** » Fri May 13, 2011 2:43 pm

Pia wrote:Perfectly normal for this time of year. As I have said in the past we always receive 7-10 days of continual solid cloud cover and/or rain every year in either April or May (and again in October or November) - you just never know which month or what week (I wish I did I could be rich ).

Pia

So, when did this latest 10+/- day cloud cover begin? How long yet until the clear skies turn the sea that brilliant blue we love to see? You can never go by weather.com as that site always says chance of rain everyday in St. John even though I could look out and see sunshine. I've never found a good and accurate weather forecast service for St. John that can be looked at on the mainland. Anybody else have?

STTlover · Post by **STTlover** » Fri May 13, 2011 3:03 pm

Weathercarib.com is specifically for the region.

Also, noaa.gov. Put Charlotte Amalie, VI as your city in the search and you'll get a more detailed and correct forcast.

TropicAtHeart · Post by **TropicAtHeart** » Fri May 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Thanks for the links!!
According to that the clear skies should return Tueday and the rest of that week looks sunny!

cmw5682 · Post by **cmw5682** » Fri May 13, 2011 5:16 pm

So it looks like lots of mosquitos in 2-3 weeks!

John LMBZ06 · Post by **John LMBZ06** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:13 am

I guess I would rather have skeeters than rain. I have been in May a couple of times and have had great luck with the weather. Yes, get that bad weather out of it's system before next week. I do not mind the cloud cover at all.

sparis · Post by **sparis** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:49 am

Yes, please get all the bad weather out of the way now and have it be nice the week of the 22nd. I'm praying to the weather gods for sunshine on May 25th. We're doing our ceremony on the beach and oh, sunshine, sunset, oh....need that. Not in love with all the rain now, as know that means many more skeeters, and they love me - but a bug spraying I'll be doing. All I wish for is sunshine on the 25th, the rest of the trip I'll take it as it comes.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:23 am

Skeeters are arriving from the rain we had a week or so ago (1 full day) new skeeters soon come in 10 days (not 2-3 weeks

or

)

Pia

sparis · Post by **sparis** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:27 am

Sigh, well as long as they maybe leave me alone the day of the ceremony, i'll be applying some bug spray, but have to be careful of dress i guess i can live with the rest. Have about 6 different sprays. Off Soft and Dry with Deet, Avon skin so soft without deet, cutter without deet, cutter with deet. Something must work

Just don't want some obnoxious welt on shoulder or neck or worse face. understandably so.

Is it any better on beach. we'll be doing sunset ceremony and heard breezes from ocean keep them away some.

AquaGirl · Post by **AquaGirl** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:50 am

I was reading Pia's words with interest (7-10 days in either May or April). We have experienced the 7-10 days of rain in April one year, and in May another year. The rainy trip in April was also very cool. One year, our trip in April was sunny and nice the entire time, however there had been a drought and the island was dry and brown. My question for those that live on the island and those who have visited in June - does June tend to be less rainy? I know its a bit hotter in June, than in May or April.

We are planning a trip with friends for next year, and we normally go in April or May. I looked at the rainful charts and it appears June is a drier month. I know lots of rain can happen any time, just thinking about trying June. We spend the majority of our time snorkeling and on the beach. In June the water may be calmer and a bit warmer too. From reading the trip reports, I know you can have fabulous weather in April and May, so its impossible to predict.

The only problem with June is waiting longer for our trip

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat May 14, 2011 1:04 pm

I can only speak of 6 years of experience so my observations are only from 2005-2011 but as I said I have noticed the 7-10 days of cloud/rain every April or May and again October or November (Les keeps a chart that he monitors the cistern levels and when we have heavy rain so we can keep a closer eye on how low we might be)

June typically is beautiful but again, as you know you, can't predict, but the past 6 years have been great - our family visits every January, June, and sometimes August as they won't risk the April/May October/November timeframe because of my observation.

It's really hard as you can tell to advise someone to stay away in April/ May - I mean 50 of the 60 days are likely to be great but it sucks if you pick the 10 bad ones

Pia

petepie · Post by **petepie** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:01 am

We picked the 10 bad days in May 2010 - about 6 of our 10 days of vacation were rainy and overcast. And the mosquitos were horrible. Although we had a great vacation, I like the postcard perfect sunny weather so don't think I'd book May again. I also went in early April another year and had beautiful, warm, sunny weather. January was beautiful too, but the swells were up on the north shore and the water was cooler so we couldn't snorkel as comfortably.

If the mosquitos are out, we found that they were thicker at some beaches (Maho, salt pond) than others, with the worst part being in the treeline right by the beach. So if you can, pick somewhere that you can quickly get through the treeline and onto the beach like Hawksnest, and if they're bad at your beach, try another. Also, if it is rainy/overcast, we found different weather around the island. Salt Pond tended to get less rain, just overcast when it might be raining on the north shore beaches.

Hope this advice is not needed!

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