Mar 22, 2010; 7:50 PM ET
With Haiti still devastated from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the nation on January 12, heavy rains during the early part of the weekend halted relief efforts.Rains on March 19th were the heaviest since the January earthquake, and are not uncommon to Haiti during the early spring.
A man looks from inside his tent at a homeless earthquake survivors camp during heavy rains in Port-au-Prince, Friday, March 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
A calm front is currently helping to dry out the area after this last storm dropped enough rain to cause flash flooding in some areas. This front should last through the week.
"Rain there is much different from the rain we experience here. In tropical areas, like Haiti, they can get 1 inch of rain in less than an hour," said AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
Haiti's rainy season, which does not usually begin until May, may have arrived earlier than anticipated.
This Caribbean island nation usually averages about 3 inches of rain in March and by May that average triples to 9 inches.
Unfortunately, after the rainy season ends, the hurricane season begins.
According to AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist and Expert Long-Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi, the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be much more active in the Caribbean.
"In the tropics, any day can be a problem," Rayno stated.
According to the Associated Press, 1.2 million are still homeless from the quake and the make-shift shelters may not be built well enough to protect them.
Before the earthquake, Haitians built walls and drainage systems to alleviate risks of flood prone areas. With that construction destroyed, many areas are said to be at risk for catastrophic flooding once the rains come.
Heavy rain also affected the area during the weekend of February 27th, where showers caused mudslides and dangerous flooding, killing an estimated thirteen people.
Story by AccuWeather.com's Carly Porter and Victoria Atkinson.
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