Climate Change Chart of Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Monthly mean temperature was higher by a difference of +0.74 °C averaged across calendar months; this is an unweighted comparison of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime maximum temperatures. The largest monthly increase was in September, with a difference of +1.06 °C. These aggregate and monthly comparisons describe differences between the reference periods, not a continuous change over time.

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall was lower by a difference of -0.57 mm/day averaged across calendar months, an unweighted comparison of monthly means rather than a day-weighted annual average. This concerns daily mean amounts, not monthly rainfall totals, and the overall difference does not imply that rainfall was lower in every month. The largest monthly decrease occurred in August, with a difference of -1.64 mm/day; the largest monthly increase was in March, with a difference of +0.37 mm/day. These contrasting monthly results show why the across-month mean should not be read as a uniform change throughout the year.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration increased by a difference of +0.01 hours/day averaged across calendar months, based on unweighted monthly means rather than a day-weighted annual average. The largest monthly increase was in September, with a difference of +0.14 hours/day, while the largest monthly decrease was in October, with a difference of -0.08 hours/day. The small overall mean difference and the opposing monthly differences describe comparisons between the two reference periods; they do not establish a continuous change or the same pattern in every month.