On Caribbean islands with mountains, the windward slopes facing the trade winds force air upward, causing rainfall. As a result, areas immediately to the leeward of the mountains have a microclimate with sparse precipitation. This is termed as the rain shadow. It is the dry area located at the lee side of the mountain. The air in the mountains that is being left with little to no moisture, moves behind the mountain and bringing back a drier side which is popularly called as the “rain shadow”.
