Island Climate Update 85 - October 2007

Tropical Cyclone guideance for the 2007-08 season

Average annual number of tropical cyclones, weak Nov-May La Niña periods, from 1969/70-2006/07.

Dr Jim Salinger, Stuart Burgess, and Dr Jim Renwick, NIWA
Lower risk of tropical cyclones east of the Date Line but all islands should remain vigilant.
For the coming tropical cyclone season, from November 2007-May 2008, we are likely to see an average risk of occurrence for those areas of the South Pacific near the Date Line. These countries include Tuvalu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, and Niue.

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 85 – October 2007
September’s climate

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) over Papua New Guinea to the region south of Tonga; very active and further southwest than normal
Suppressed convection over Western and Eastern Kiribati and further east
Record September rainfall in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and parts of Fiji; well below average rainfall in Kiribati, Tuvalu, northern Cook Islands a

Tropical Pacific rainfall - September 2007

Territory and station name
September 2007 rainfall
total (mm)
September 2007 percent
of average

Australia

Cairns Airport
4.0
11

Townsville Airport
42.0
18

Brisbane Airport
40.2
114

Sydney Airport
40.6
65

Cook Islands

Penrhyn
24.0
16

Rarotonga Airport
65.0
60

Fiji

Rotuma
162.4
68

Udu Point
328.8
291

Nadi
217.5
311

Nausori
308.5
187

Ono-I-Lau
210.3
194

French Polynesia

Hiva Hoa, Atuona
162.4
68

Bora Bora Motu
52.6
291

Tahiti – Faa’a
38.0
75

Tuamotu, Takaroa
102.4
124

Gambier, Rikitea