Island Climate Update 105 - June 2009

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 105 – June 2009
May’s climate
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was positioned southwest of normal.
Suppressed convection near Western Kiribati and along the Equator extending east through Nauru and Eastern Kiribati.
Mostly well above normal rainfall for New Caledonia and many parts of Fiji.
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), seasonal rainfall, and sea surface temperature for

Climate developments in May 2009
Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for May 2009. (Click for enlargement and detail)
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was displaced southwest of its normal position last month, but exhibited less coherent rainfall concentrations than in previous months. A region of enhanced rainfall, partly due to intensified convection, was observed over part of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Fiji during May. Suppressed convection existed northeast of the Solomon Islands during May, in a zone including Western Kiribati, Nauru, and to the north of Tuvalu.

Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: June to August 2009
Rainfall outlook map for June to August 2009.
Sea surface temperature outlook map for June to August 2009.
During June – August 2009, a region of suppressed convection is likely in the southwest Pacific encompassing Tokelau, Tuvalu, the Northern Cook Islands, and the Marquesas, with below average rainfall expected for those areas. Near normal rainfall is forecast for Pitcairn Island and the Tuamotu Archipelago.

Tropical Pacific rainfall - May 2009
Territory and station name
May 2009 rainfall total (mm)
May 2009 percent of average
Australia
Cairns Airport
89
93
Townsville Airport
7
19
Brisbane Airport
241
243
Sydney Airport
126
130
Cook Islands
Penrhyn
N/A
N/A
Aitutaki
100
51
Rarotonga Airport
50
30
Fiji
Rotuma Island
279
94
Udu Point
241
144
Nadi Airport
163
183
Nausori
308
124
French Polynesia
Hiva Hoa, Atuona
104
66
Bora Bora
99
89
Tahiti – Faa’a
34
33
Tuamotu, Takaroa
96
109
Gambier, Rikitea
237
172
Tubuai
126
75
Rapa
305
1

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.
Your comments and ideas about the Island Climate Update are welcome.