Federated States of Micronesia

Pohnpei State: When averaged over the first three months of 2005, the rainfall at most locations on Pohnpei Island and the atolls of Pohnpei was near normal. There was, however, extreme month-to-month variation not reflected in this 3-month average. Rainfall during February 2005 was less than half of normal at many locations, followed in March and April by abundant rainfall. Pohnpei Island experienced a tremendous range of rainfall values, from a near record dry month (February) to an extreme 24-hour heavy rain event (April 30th). On the last day of April, Pohnpei experienced an extreme rainfall event in which the WSO in Kolonia received nearly 11 inches of rain in 24 hours. During the 13-year period 1990-2002, the WSO Pohnpei received over 10 inches in 24 hours only two times (Figure 2).

During this event [April 2005], there were two reported casualties: one was a drowning in rough seas and another occurred when a tree was blown over on top of a person. The cause of this event was a large meso-scale convective complex (not a tropical cyclone) that formed in the trade-wind trough. Through April of 2005, there have been large month-to-month fluctuations in cloudiness and rainfall (most likely associated with the MJO).