 Owing to its mountainous topography, Hispaniola's climate shows considerable variation over short distances, and is the most varied of all the Antilles.Except in the Northern Hemisphere summer season, the predominant winds over Hispaniola are the northeast trade winds.As in Jamaica and Cuba, these winds deposit their moisture on the northern mountains, and create a distinct rain shadow on the southern coast, where some areas receive as little as of rainfall, and have semi-arid climates.