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 67 – April 2006

March’s climate

• Double Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) evident in March; South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) much further south than average
• Suppressed convection over Western and Eastern Kiribati, extending towards Samoa
• Rainfall above average in the Southern Cook Islands and the Marquesas Islands; below average over much of Fiji, northern Tonga, and the Society Islands
• Much warmer than average in Fiji and French Polynesia
• Seven tropical cyclones so far this season

El Niño/Southern Oscillation and seasonal rainfall forecasts

• The tropical Pacific continues to exhibit weak La Niña conditions
• Below average rainfall over Western Kiribati and Tuvalu
• Near or above average rainfall extending from Papua New Guinea southeastwards to Pitcairn Island

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