11th October 2016 Tropical Pacific Ocean remains neutral through to the end of 2016.
ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) Status:
Temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean remains El Niño—Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral through to the end of 2016. Only one international climate model suggests a La Niña late in the year is possible.
What is La Niña?
The reverse of El Niño. It means that the eastern and central Pacific Ocean is cooler than usual during this event. In Tonga, the effect of La Niña is
more rainfall than usual during summer (wet season).
Neutral means that it is neither El Niño nor La Nina.
Note:
We are in the transition period where it is slowly changing from the Cool dry season (May-October) to the Wet Season. Variations in monthly rainfall and temperatures often occurs during this time of the season. According to the forecast above, it is advisable especially for the smaller islands to use water wisely and collect as much water as possible when it rains. Tropical cyclones and periods of heavy rainfalls have occurred outside of the rainy and cyclone season, so it is encouraged that public who live in coastal and low lying areas to seek advice from relevant authorities of sensitive sectors e.g. Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Helath and the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) on the best practices to minimize the effects of natural disasters.
Current Situation
Rainfall in September was extremely high in Niuatoputapu and extremely low in Vava’u, Ha’apai and Tongatapu. The high rainfall in Niuatoputapu helped recover some of the dry conditions experienced in previous months, May, July and August.
Highest maximum day time temperature was 33.2°C recorded in Niuafo’ou on the 9th.
The lowest night time minimum temperature was 14.9°C recorded on the 23rd in Vava’u.
July, August, September rain summary:
Last 3 months rainfall was above average in Niuatoputapu and normal over the rest of Tonga. Refer to table 2 below.
Table2 -Looks at the total rain that fell in the last 3 months, and Outlooks up to April 2017.
The next Climate update will be issued in early November 2016.
For further information: Contact the Meteorology Division MEIDECC at telephone 35355 or Email metstaff@met.gov.to. More information is also available at www.met.gov.to