How do mountains, trade winds, and ocean currents affect Caribbean rainfall?

The climate of the Caribbean is primarily tropical, but rainfall patterns are significantly influenced by the interaction of trade winds, mountainous terrain, and ocean currents.1

• Trade Winds: The northeast trade winds dominate the region, blowing warm, moist maritime tropical air westward. As these winds progress across the ocean, the air mass becomes increasingly humid.21
• Mountains: Elevated terrain features on Caribbean islands play a critical role in rainfall distribution. When the moisture-laden trade winds encounter these mountains, the air is forced upward, leading to condensation and showers. This interaction creates significant local variations in precipitation, ranging from as little as 10 inches annually in drier areas like Bonaire to as much as 350 inches in mountainous parts of Dominica.21
• Ocean Currents: The Caribbean Current and other surface currents transport warm water through the region. These currents help maintain the warm, humid conditions that characterize the Caribbean climate, providing the moisture necessary for the showery weather patterns experienced throughout the area.3421