The picturesque Rio Grande in Portland is often transformed into a stream of terror during heavy rains. - Photo by Mark Titus

Portland's natural beauty has captivated the interest of locals and foreigners and continues to be the preferred hideaway for many.

The winding roadways, decked with orchids and wild ferns, pierce the lush greenery of the

misty mountainside, forging their way into the hills of this northeastern parish.

"Indeed, Portland is the wettest parish," Jeffrey Spooner, head of the climate branch at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, tells The Gleaner.

"This is determined through rainfall which is collected on a daily basis," he explained, "then from a daily average; we do a monthly average, followed by a yearly average.

Spooner

"However, to look at the climate for any one place, we (normally) look at a 30-year average for that area."

The latest climatologic data, which cover the period 1951-1980, show that Portland receives an average of 3,670mm of rainfall for the year, followed by Hanover, with 2,302mm. St Thomas follows closely behind with 2,288mm, while St Mary rounds off the top-four wettest parishes with an average of 1,908mm each year.

"This is because of the fact that we (Jamaica) have two regimes of rainfall," the veteran meteorologist explains. "During the summer months, the systems (tropical waves) and disturbances (tropical cyclones) will move from east to west; this places Portland in the rainy section (the windward side of the mountain) and that would help to enhance that rainfall, based on the height of the mountain."

Spooner further indicated Hanover's strength is its large mountains, which form a buffer to frontal systems in the winter months. This mountain buffer forces upward movement of air, which, in turn, will cause additional showers.

The primary rainfall period in Portland is November to December, in contrast to July to September for the remainder of the island. With the annual precipitation at 1,946mm, the rest of Jamaica receives only 53 per cent of the rainfall that takes place in Portland.

Rafi Ahmad, fellow and head of the Unit for Disaster Studies at the University of the West Indies, says there are advantages and disadvantages to Portland's rainy status.

According to the geologist, consistent rainfall will result in improved vegetation for farmers. However, if not appropriately managed, it could be disastrous.

"Greater care has to be taken in what we do in these areas," he said. "The continuous removal of trees will mean an increase in land slippages during heavy rainfall; mining operations, in some cases, are doing more harm than good, and the residents must now be more meticulous in where they construct their houses."

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com