Federated States of Micronesia

Pohnpei State:  The rainfall total for the 3rd Quarter of 2005 at the Pohnpei WSO (on the north side of Pohnpei Island) was 45.26 inches (89% or normal). At Palikir on the west side of Pohnpei Island, the rainfall total of 59.25 inches (116% of normal) was much wetter than at the WSO. The Palikir rainfall was the highest three month total recorded at any official recording station in Micronesia during the 3rd Quarter of 2005. Rainfall totals on the east side of Pohnpei Island (at a site near Nan Madol) and on the south side of Pohnpei Island (at Enipein School) were generally drier than the totals at the WSO and at Palikir. On the top of the highest mountain (Nahna Laud) in the middle of Pohnpei Island, a total of 68.97 inches of rainfall was recorded during the period 01 July through 15 September 2005. The University of Guam and the Conservation Society of Pohnpei have been recording the rain on top of Nahna Laud since June 2003.

The rainfall at the atolls of Pohnpei State was abundant, and exceeded the amounts at the WSO on Pohnpei Island at Nukuoro and at Kapingamarangi. The 3rd Quarter total of 54.45 inches at Kapingamarangi was 242% of the normal rainfall for the period. Rain has been abundant on Kapingamarangi for many months now. This atoll (near the equator to the south of Pohnpei Island) normally experiences a period of dry weather during the months of July through October, with less than ten inches per month. Abundant rainfall there may be related to the persistent warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in that region.