Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI): There was a large north-south gradient of rainfall in the RMI during the 1st Quarter of 2006, with the northern RMI experiencing very dry conditions and areas of the southern RMI experiencing abundant rainfall. The northern atolls of the RMI ( Kwajalein , Utirik and Wotje) were among the driest of locations in Micronesia during the 1st Quarter of 2006, with 3-month totals at each island of less than 10 inches. Some of the central and southern atolls, however, were wet (e.g., Mili had a 1st Quarter total of 30.90 inches). Extremely dry conditions at Majuro during most of February resulted in mandatory water rationing. Over 5 inches of rain in one day at the end of February contributed almost the entire monthly rainfall total of 6.38 inches at the Majuro WSO.

Climate Outlook:

With ENSO neutral conditions following the earlier weak La Niña conditions this year, tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific basin should continue to form west of normal for the whole year. Thus, the RMI has a very low risk of a typhoon during 2006.

The northern atolls of the RMI should be drier than normal through June 2006, and the central and southern atolls should have adequate rainfall. The trade wind trough is firmly established over southern Micronesia , and rainfall should be abundant for most areas south of 8 ° N by the end of April and for areas north of 8 ° N by June. Residents in the northern Marshall Islands are encouraged to conserve water until near normal rains return in late June or early July.

Predicted rainfall for the RMI from May 2006 through April 2007 is as follows:

source: UOG-WERI