January 16, 2004
Tropical Storm Odette developed around December 3rd in the southwest Caribbean Sea, just after the normal Atlantic hurricane season had officially ended on November 30. Sources in Jamaica reported no significant affect from Odette. Hispaniola withstood the brunt of the storm with relative ease (on December 6-7), and Odette resulted in no significant damage to northern Dominican Republic provinces already awash in excess moisture. For parts of Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola, Odette brought beneficial precipitation to areas where below-normal moisture has raised concerns about potentially unfavorable spring planting conditions.
Odette was not a major moisture manufacturer beyond the south central area of Hispaniola where she came ashore. North-central and northeast Dominican Republic, however, received consistent light to moderate showers both before and after Odette, such that top soil was saturated much of the time. The island typically experiences a declining rate of showers from October through January.
Cumulative Precipitation Graphs:
Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata Province, north coast Dominican Republic
Santiago, Santiago province, north central Dominican Republic
Samana de la Mar, Samana Province, northeast Dominican Republic
Northwest/North Central: Sources informed FAS Santo Domingo that excessive November rainfall forced the Rio Yaqui del Norte over its banks in the provinces of Monte Cristi, Valverde, and Santiago. At least two relatively small water reservoirs also attained critical levels due to the frequent rainfall, leading the National Waterworks Institute to release some of the water in mid-November to reduce the pressure on these dams. This additional volume of water quickly extended the area of lowlands underwater along the Rio Yaqui del Norte. Preliminary reports indicated damaged fields planted to cantaloupe, plantain, bananas, cassava, pigeon peas, dasheen, and rice.
Northeast: Sources informed FAS Santo Domingo that excessive November rainfall forced the Rio Yuna over its banks in the provinces of Samana, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Duarte, and Sanchez Ramirez. Here also the National Waterworks Institute released water to relieve stressed dams, thereby expanding the area of lowlands affected by the Rio Yuna. (See Landsat-7 Imagery below.) The planned second season rice crop was already in question because of the cultivation problems with its re-growth.
There is much discussion in agricultural circles about the affect upon the Dominican Republic's trade requirement arising from the flooding, particularly for bananas and rice. Actual dollar losses in bananas and plantain fruit may be far less than the damage to plantation fields and trees, which could require months to restore to productivity. Meanwhile markets may shift to other suppliers. Rice is a politically sensitive crop, and the floods sparked immediate demands for additional government assistance to offset losses to the main crop, normally harvested during October and November. Reports to the contrary held that most of the northern region's rice was already harvested, and the remaining plants were re-growth which will survive the floods in decent condition. The early Government response was to announce the intention to replant fields where seedlings or re-growth was washed away, and cover any rice shortfall with imports. The amount of rice lost to the floods is not a solid number, making imports a questionable endeavor in a country where over-production the past 3 years has created a public furor. (See Attaché GAINS reports DR3021, September 10, 2003 and DR3002, January 1, 2003.)
Landsat 7 Imagery: Northeast Dominican Republic Provinces October 2003, November 2003
Tropical Storm Odette was a non-event in Haiti, as rainfall on the western half of the island of Hispaniola remained generally below normal for the year. After running above average through September and October of this year, the Haiti rainfall line flattened out across the graphs during November. This November flat-line has occurred every year in this decade, contrary to the historical norm, placing pressure on the beginning of the new year in terms of soil moisture for planting. December and January seldom contribute much to the annual rainfall total, but February usually begins the recharging of the soil moisture. As yet, there are no credible reports of outright crop failures during the fall, nor predictions of failures in spring 2004.
Although grapefruit and orange harvesting are prevalent in Cuba from October through December, and sugarcane harvest can also begin, light showers from Tropical Storm Odette would have been well-received on this island. Unexpectedly bountiful October showers were followed by a virtual absence of rain for most of Cuba in November that has forced accumulation totals far below normal. The dryness benefits harvest operations, but a price may be paid in early 2004, as January-to-April precipitation has trended dramatically below normal in recent years. Accumulated rainfall for the year across Cuba typically totals at least 8 inches from January-to-April, but many locations struggled to attain that mark in 2003, including Pinar del Rio and Las Tunas.
Visit Crop Explorer to see more weather and crop information.
Related FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service) Links
Gains Report DR3027, December 18, 2003.
Gains Report DR3021, September 10, 2003.
Gains Report DR3002, January 1, 2003.