Island Climate Update 81 - June 2007

Summary of the 2006–07 tropical cyclone season
Figure 1. The number of named Southwest Pacific tropical cyclones for the 2006–07 season
Figure 2. Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone tracks for the 2006–07 season
Stuart Burgess, NIWA
The 2006–07 Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone season had seven occurrences (east of 150°E), one less than the average (1976–77 to 2005–06) number normally expected for the region in the tropical cyclone season (Figure 1), and the same number as the 2005–06 season.

An overview of the present climate in the tropical South Pacific Islands, with an outlook for the coming months, to assist in dissemination of climate information in the Pacific region.
Number 81 – June 2007
May’s climate
South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) located from Papua New Guinea to the Society Islands; quite active over Samoa
Rainfall above average in parts of Fiji, American Samoa, and Northern French Polynesia
Below average rainfall in parts of New Caledonia, Western Kiribati, the Austral, and the Kermadec Islands
Warmer than normal in Southern Tonga, Niue, the Southern

Climate developments in May 2007
  Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for May 2007. (Click for enlargement and detail)
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) extended from Papua New Guinea to the Society Islands, and was slightly further north than average west of the Date Line, and a little further south than average well east of the Date Line. The SPCZ was quite active over Samoa.

Tropical rainfall outlook: June to August 2007
  Rainfall outlook map for June to August 2007.

Tropical Pacific rainfall - May 2007
Territory and station name
March 2007 rainfall
total (mm)
March 2007 percent
of average
Australia
Cairns Airport
151.0
157
Townsville Airport
428
8
Brisbane Airport
71.6
72
Sydney Airport
11.4
12
Cook Islands
Penrhyn
122.4
67
Rarotonga Airport
196.4
116
Rarotonga EWS
176.2
104
Fiji
Rotuma
326.4
110
Udu Point
307.2
184
Nadi
26.9
30
Nausori
254.5
103
Ono-I-Lau
285.4
277
French Polynesia
Hiva Hoa, Atuona
189.9
120
Bora Bora Motu
158.8
143
Tahiti – Faa’a
95.8
93
Tuamotu, Takaroa
36.2
41
Gambier, R

Sources of South Pacific rainfall data
This bulletin is a multi-national project with important collaboration from the following Pacific nations:
American Samoa
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Kiribati
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niue
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn Island
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Requests for Pacific island climate data should be directed to the Meteorological Services concerned.
Acknowledgements
This bulletin is produced by NIWA and made possible with financial support from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), with addi