April

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 55 – April 2005

March's climate: Suppressed convection over much of the Southwest Pacific. South Pacific Convergence Zone was weaker and further south and west than average. Warmer in many islands, cooler in New Caledonia. Three named tropical cyclones.

ENSO and sea surface temperatures (SST): El Niño/Southern Oscillation conditions should ease to neutral by May. Suppressed convection over the Marquesas Islands. Near average or above average rainfall likely in Western. Kiribati and the Northern Cook Islands.

Forecast validation: How well are we doing with our predictions?

Tropical rainfall outlook: April to June 2005.

Feature article: The evolution of the weak El Niño 2004-2005

Tropical Pacific rainfall: March 2005.

Sources of South Pacific rainfall data.

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