Tropical Pacific rainfall

Tropical Cyclone Update
An active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) moved across the Southwest Pacific during mid February, and helped trigger the development of tropical cyclones Meena, Nancy, and Olaf. All three affected the Cook Islands, with Olaf also affecting Samoa. Tropical cyclone Percy affected Tokelau on 26 February then tracked to Cook Islands before dissipating. It was the fourth tropical cyclone since the beginning of February, and the seventh named cyclone for the season. High frequencies of tropical cyclones east of the Date Line (6 of the 7 this season).

Tropical Cyclone Update

An active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) moved across the Southwest Pacific during mid February, and helped trigger the development of tropical cyclones Meena, Nancy, and Olaf. All three affected the Cook Islands, with Olaf also affecting Samoa. Tropical cyclone Percy affected Tokelau on 26 February then tracked to Cook Islands before dissipating. It was the fourth tropical cyclone since the beginning of February, and the seventh named cyclone for the season. High frequencies of tropical cyclones east of the Date Line (6 of the 7 this season). These generally occur only during El Niño seasons. The April issue of the ICU will provide an update on information relating to any occurrences of tropical cyclones in our forecast region..

Tropical pacific rainfall - February 2005

Territory and station name February 2005 rainfall total (mm) Long-term average (mm) February 2005 percent of average Lowest on record (mm) Highest on record (mm) Records began
American Samoa
Pago Pago Airport 284 326 87 1966
Australia
Cairns Airport 111.2 457 24 30 1287 1941
Townsville Airport 8.2 292 3 4 904 1940
Brisbane Airport 33.2 172 19 24 544 1929
Sydney Airport 109.0 106 103 1929
Cook Islands
Rarotonga Airport 314.1 202 155 12 509 1929
Fiji
Rotuma 147.5 322 46 111 925 1912
Udu Point 732.3 249 294 152 772 1946
Nadi 63.8 292 22 46 792 1942
Nausori 189.1 268 71 105 612 1956
Ono-i-Lau 23.7 194 12 17 492 1943
French Polynesia
Hiva Hoa, Atuona 206.6 83 249 5 265 1951
Tahiti – Faaa 729.4 221 330 21 759 1919
Tuamotu, Takaroa 491.6 172 286 43 477 1953
Tuamotu, Hereheretue 212.6 144 148 37 305 1962
Gambier, Rikitea 114.0 164 70 31 404 1952
Tubuai 252.0 207 122 26 581 1953
Rapa 297.4 199 149 12 474 1951
Kiribati
Tarawa 92.6 182 51 4 541 1946
New Caledonia
Ile Art, Belep 48.0 198 24 40 624 1962
Koumac 86.6 160 54 19 473 1951
Ouloup 113.6 189 60 37 417 1966
Ouanaham 69.2 246 28 38 573 1961
Poindimie 213.1 383 56 101.8 1151 1965
La Roche 40.0 210 19 42 853 1956
La Tontouta 48.4 131 37 15 435 1949
Noumea 54.9 117 47 15 406 1863
Moue 52.0 161 32 47.2 555 1972
Niue
Hanan Airport 227.0 237 96 34 538 1996
New Zealand
Kaitaia 91.7 101 91 14 309 1985
Whangarei Aiport 91.0 112 81 6 452 1937
Auckland Airport 62.8 82 77 8 272 1962
North Tasman
Lord Howe Island 29.0 116 25 22 337 1886
Norfolk Island 68.8 81 85 3 298 1921
Raoul Island 220.2 148 149 11 731 1937
Solomon Islands
Taro 149.1 303 49 1974
Munda 632.0 361 175 1954
Auki 365.8 381 96 1954
Honiara 250.0 293 85 81 554 1954
Henderson 149.4 285 52 1974
Santa Cruz, Lata 269.3 397 68 1970
Tuvalu
Nanumea 496.9 276 180 0 720 1941
Funafuti 495.6 316 157 93 1139 1927
Nuilakita Island 270.4 320 85 63 673 1941
Vanuatu
Sola 360.0 350 103 124 689 1958
Pekoa 390.4 314 124 24 805 1951
Lamap 339.5 256 133 20 719 1960
Bauerfi eld 171.9 261 66 89 628 1985
Burtonfi eld 126.2 213 59 49 604
Aneityum 87.2 295 30 67 1084 1958
Wallis & Futuna
Wallis Island, Hihifo 160.8 350 46 38 866 1951
Maopoopo, Futuna Island 456.0 352 130

Rainfall totalling 200 percent or more is normally well above average. Totals of 40 percent or less are normally well below average. Highlighted values are new records.

Data are as received and may be subject to change with later quality control. The data in italics are obtained from synoptic weather reports and can sometimes differ from the true values, due to communications or station outage, etc. Superscripts represent days of missing data.