Monthly climate

Climate developments in February 2002

Active convection over equatorial waters about and west of the date line Low rainfall in the Northern Cook Islands and much of French Polynesia

An extensive area of enhanced convection occurred over equatorial waters about and west of the date line, from Papua-New Guinea to Eastern Kiribati, with another convective band associated with a southward displacement of the SPCZ extending from Tuvalu southeast across Fiji and Tonga. Rainfall was at least 125% of average at many locations within these convective regions, but more than 200% of average in some northern and central areas of Fiji and southern Tonga. Rainfall totalling more than 400 mm was measured at Fua'amotu, Tonga from 18 to 22 February. It was extremely wet in Rapa, southern French Polynesia, due to high rainfall (over 400 mm) during the last week of the month.

High February rainfall was recorded at:

Sunny conditions, with less than 75% of average rainfall, persisted over the Northern Cook Islands and many islands in French Polynesia. Below normal rainfall (less than 50% of average) persisted along parts of the Queensland coast of Australia, extending into the Coral Sea.

Extremely low February rainfall was recorded at:

Unusually high mean February air temperatures (1.5 to 1.8°C above average), associated with much warmer than average sea surface temperatures (see below), were measured in parts of Fiji, Samoa, and southern French Polynesia. These included: