Climate developments in August 2003
Extremely dry from Queensland east to Fiji
Areas of suppressed convection encompassed Vanuatu, Fiji, and the southern part of the Solomon Islands, as well as Eastern Kiribati. Rainfall was extremely low, being less than 25% of average in a broad region from Queensland (Australia) eastward to Fiji, including Vanuatu and Eastern Kiribati. Many stations in this region recorded rainfall totalling less than 10 mm. Rainfall was less than 50% of average in the north Tasman, over the northern half of New Caledonia, the northern islands of Tonga, and parts of the Southern Cook Islands. September was the seventh consecutive month with below average rainfall in parts of Eastern Kiribati, and the fourth consecutive month with below average rainfall in parts of Fiji.
The SPCZ extended from the monsoon region just north of Papua New Guinea, east to Tuvalu, being displaced to the north of its mean location about and west of the Date Line. There was also SPCZ activity over the Northern Cook Islands and the region around Pitcairn Island, with rainfall totals exceeding 200 mm. A large region of enhanced convection affected the northwest Pacific, extending over the Caroline Islands and Papua New Guinea.Air temperatures were at least 1.0°C above average in the Southern Cook Islands, and 0.5-0.9°C above average in Niue and much of French Polynesia. In contrast, they were well below average in parts of New Caledonia.
Climate extremes in September 2003
| Country |
Location |
Rainfall (mm) |
% of average |
Comments |
| Australia |
Willis Island |
<1 |
2 |
Record Low |
| Fiji |
Nacocolevu |
5 |
5 |
Record Low |
| Fiji |
Viwa |
1 |
2 |
Record Low |
| Fiji |
Vatukoula |
5 |
7 |
Record Low |
| Fiji |
Vunisea |
8 |
6 |
Record Low |
| Vanuatu |
Lamap |
8 |
11 |
Record Low |
| New Caledonia |
IIe Art, Belep |
10 |
15 |
Well below average |
| Eastern Kiribati |
Christmas Island |
9 |
16 |
Well below average |
| Pitcairn |
Pitcairn Island |
248 |
198 |
Well above average |
| Country |
Location |
Mean Air Temp (°C) |
Dep. from Av |
Comments |
| New Caledonia |
Ouloup |
21.1 |
-1.7 |
Well below average |
| New Caledonia |
Ouanaham |
19.4 |
-1.4 |
Well below average |
| New Caledonia |
La Roche |
18.2 |
-1.7 |
Well below average |
| Cook Islands |
Rarotonga |
23.7 |
+1.1 |
Well above average |
| Country |
Location |
Max Air Temp (°C) |
Date |
Comments |
| Fiji |
Vatukoula |
34.8 |
18 Sep |
New record high |
| Country |
Location |
Min Air Temp (°C) |
Date |
Comments |
| Fiji |
Penang Mill |
12.4 |
3 Sep |
New record low |
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 September 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.
