Federated States of Micronesia

Pohnpei State: The 3rd Quarter rainfall was slightly drier than normal on Pohnpei Island and on most atolls of Pohnpei State. Because La Niña has produced colder than normal sea surface temperature along the equator, the atolls of Pohnpei State that are located at low latitudes (e.g., Kapingamarangi at 1°N and Nukuoro at 4°N) have had reduced rainfall in recent months. The reduction of rainfall has been most pronounced at Kapingamarangi where only 0.72 inches of rain (12%) fell in September 2010. This level of dryness has prompted the WFO Guam in coordination with the WSO Pohnpei to issue weekly drought advisories for Kapingamarangi, which will continue until rainfall resumes at that island. Rainfall is expected to remain low at Kapingamarangi for the next few months, but then recover somewhat as the southern Hemisphere summer wind patterns become established in January 2011.

Pohnpei Rainfall Summary 3rd Quarter 2010

Climate Outlook: For the next three months (November 2010 through January 2011), the dry conditions at Kapingamarangi should continue. After the Southern Hemisphere summer wind patterns become established in January, the rainfall at Kapingamarangi will gradually recover to near normal.

Forecast rainfall for Pohnpei State from October 2010 through September 2011 is as follows:

Forecast rainfall quantities represent BEST ESTIMATES given the probabalistic forecast for each particular season and station.

source: UOG-WERI