Island Climate Update 101 - February 2009

Feature article

Extreme rainfall and new records in the Fiji Islands, January 2009

A flooded house in Nadi, Fiji that resulted from high rainfall during January 2009.

A badly damaged bridge in Nadi, Fiji.

Fiji Meteorological Service
January 2009 was the wettest first month of the year in more than a century at several locations in Fiji. The total monthly rainfall was equivalent to or above 200% of normal at more than 75% of reporting stations in the Western, Central and Eastern Divisions of the country. Fourteen monthly rainfall totals and seven 24hr daily rainfall records were broken during the month.

February

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 101 – February 2009
January’s climate

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was displaced southwest of its normal position and was very active.
Very suppressed convection near Western Kiribati and south of the Equator from Nauru east to northern French Polynesia.
Normal to well above normal rainfall for many areas in the South Pacific, with many new records established in Fiji.

El Ni

Monthly climate

Climate developments in January 2009

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for January 2009. (Click for enlargement and detail)

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) activity was displaced south and west of normal during January, and was more consolidated than last month. A region of enhanced rainfall due to intensified convection was observed during January 2009 over northeast Australia, and in the south Pacific extending from the Solomon Islands southeast to the Southern Cook Islands. Very high amounts of rainfall occurred within this band, and are highlighted in this issue.

Three-month outlook

Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: February to April 2009

Rainfall outlook map for February to April 2009. (Click for enlargement)

Sea surface temperature outlook map for February to April 2009. (Click for enlargement)

During the February–April 2009 forecast period, a region of suppressed convection is likely to encompass the central and eastern Southwest Pacific, extending to the southeast from Western Kiribati and including Tuvalu, Tokelau, the Northern Cook Islands, and the Society Islands, where below normal rainfall is expected.

Tropical Pacific rainfall

Tropical Pacific rainfall - January 2009

Territory and station name
January 2009 rainfall
total (mm)
January 2009 percent
of average

Australia

Cairns Airport
882
223

Townsville Airport
664
245

Brisbane Airport
77
49

Sydney Airport
25
25

Cook Islands

Penrhyn
28
11

Aitutaki
221
86

Rarotonga Airport
137
61

Fiji

Rotuma Island
500
141

Udu Point
700
224

Nadi Airport
1181
344

Nausori
652
179

French Polynesia

Hiva Hoa, Atuona
34
22

Bora Bora
201
81

Tahiti – Faa’a
261
96

Tuamotu, Takaroa
123
64

Gambier, Rikitea
433
297

Tubuai
67
3

Data sources

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.

NIWA