MenuMain navigation

Monthly climate

Climate developments in November 2003

Below average rainfall persists over much of the equatorial Southwest Pacific

Enhanced convection from the Caroline Islands to southern Vanuatu

High rainfall persists in Pitcairn Island

A large region of suppressed convection and generally below average rainfall encompassed much of Western and Eastern Kiribati, Tokelau, and parts of northern French Polynesia.

Rainfall was also below average (75% of average) over the southern Coral Sea, and parts of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Niue. November was the 9th consecutive month with below average rainfall in parts of Eastern Kiribati, and the 5th consecutive month with below average rainfall in parts of Fiji.

The SPCZ extended east from the north of Papua New Guinea to Samoa, being more active than usual over the Solomon Islands, and was displaced slightly north of its mean location. Enhanced convection occurred from the Caroline Islands southeast to southern Vanuatu. Apart from that region, there were only isolated areas where rainfall was at least 125% of average.

Air temperatures were at least 0.5°C above average in Tuvalu and Tonga, and about 0.5°C below average in New Caledonia and the Southern Cook Islands.

Surface westerlies were almost absent in November at Tarawa, Western Kiribati, where a high frequency of calm conditions occurred. Trade winds were stronger than average in New Caledonia.

Climate extremes in November 2003

Country Location Rainfall (mm) % of average Comments
Australia Norfolk Island 6 9 Extremely low
Country Location Mean Air Temp (°C) Dep. from Av Comments
Tuvalu Nanumea 29.3 +1.0 Well above average
Country Location Max Air Temp (°C) Date Comments
Fiji Vunisea 32.5 New record

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) anomalies, in Wm-2 are represented by shaded areas, and rainfall percentage of average, shown by numbers. High radiation levels (yellow) are typically associated with clearer skies and lower rainfall, while cloudy conditions lower the OLR (blue) and typically mean higher rainfalls. The November 2003 position of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), as identified from total rainfall, is indicated by the solid green line. The average position of the SPCZ is identified by the dashed green line. Data source: NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center.