Why does rainfall vary across the small island of Barbados?

Despite its small size, rainfall in Barbados varies significantly due to the island's topography. Precipitation levels increase as one moves from the low-lying coastal areas toward the higher central district of the island.1

This variation is closely linked to the island's relief. The land rises to a high point at Mount Hillaby, which reaches 1,102 feet (336 metres) in the north-central region. As air masses encounter these higher elevations, the resulting orographic effect contributes to the observed differences in rainfall distribution across the landscape.21