28 October 2009
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.
In this issue
Forecast validation: July to September 2009
A region of suppressed convection was forecast for the southwest Pacific encompassing Tokelau, the Northern Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea. Near to below average rainfall was expected for those areas. Below average rainfall was forecast for the Marquesas.Near normal rainfall was forecast for Niue, Southern Cook Islands, Wallis & Futuna, the Austral Islands and Pitcairn Island. Enhanced convection was expected along the Equator extending from Western to Eastern Kiribati, and also near the Solomon Islands.-
Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: October to December 2009
During October – December 2009, a region of suppressed convection is likely in the southwest Pacific encompassing Niue, the Northern Cook Islands, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea. Near to below average rainfall is expected for all of those islands, except below average rainfall is forecast for Papua New Guinea. Near normal rainfall is forecast for the Austral Islands and Pitcairn Island. Enhanced convection is likely along the Equator extending from Western to Eastern Kiribati, and also near the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.