Monthly climate

Climate developments in March 2004

In March a large region of enhanced convergence persisted over the Caroline Islands, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and the Solomon Islands, extending into the Coral Sea (with rainfall exceeding 400 mm at many locations). OLR anomalies were relatively weak east of the Date Line.

The SPCZ, which has been oscillating widely from its mean location over the last few months, was located further north and east than usual, extending from Papua New Guinea to Tuvalu, over the Northern Cook Islands, and southeast to the Society and Tuamotu Islands, and Pitcairn Island. Rainfall was at least 300 mm (125% or more of average) over much of this region. Rainfall was also above average over much of New Caledonia and Tonga, the Kermadecs and the Marquesas Islands. There were at least 25 rainy days at Poindimie (New Caledonia), Nadi Airport and Udu Point (Fiji), Wallis Island, and Hiva Hoa (Marquesas Islands).

High rainfall in excess of 200 mm was recorded in parts of New Caledonia on the 3rd. Later on the 19th, rainfall exceeded 100 mm in some areas during the developmental phase of tropical cyclone ‘Grace’, which affected the sea-area west of the island nation. A region of weakly suppressed convection and below average rainfall occurred over Eastern Kiribati. The Southern Cook Islands was the only other part of the tropical Southwest Pacific region in March to have noticeably below average rainfall. In the south, many locations in northern New Zealand recorded their driest March on record. Mean air temperatures were about 1.0°C above average in Tonga, and about 0.5°C above average in the Southern Cook Islands and northern and central French Polynesia.

Climate extremes in March 2004