Federated States of Micronesia

Kosrae State:  Rainfall was abundant on Kosrae during the first half of 2006. While islands further to the north (such as Kwajalein) were dry, Kosrae at its low latitude (6º N) stayed in the in the narrow zone of heavy rainfall along the axis of the trade wind trough (sometimes called the ITCZ). Though 2nd Quarter rainfall totals at Kosrae were slightly dry, the heavy 1st Quarter totals pushed the amount of rainfall during the first half of the year on Kosrae to the highest recorded values in all of Micronesia. The 1st half of 2006 rainfall at Tofol (a village on the east side of the island) was 106.55 inches and this was the highest rainfall total recorded in Micronesia for that time period. The rainfall at Kosrae Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Station (SAWRS) (located at the airport on the north side of the island) was almost exactly the same at 106.54 inches. This is a lot of rain by many standards, but was actually 98% of the normal value for the SAWRS station. Rainfall at other locations on the island of Kosrae was slightly drier than at Tofol and SAWRS.

Climate Outlook:

The risk of a damaging tropical storm or typhoon is very unlikely at Kosrae during 2006. The very early stages of developing tropical cyclones may bring some episodes of heavy rain to Kosrae, but these systems should not become tropical storms or typhoons until they are well away from Kosrae.

Overall for the next 3 to 6 months (and beyond into the first half of 2007), the rainfall on Kosrae is expected to be near normal.

Predicted rainfall for Kosrae State from July 2006 through June 2007 is as follows: