Republic of Palau: The 2007 annual rainfall was slightly lower than average throughout the Republic of Palau. The 126.53 inches at the WSO was 86% of normal. Rainfall at other Palau locations was higher than at the WSO with the highest reading of 144.11 inches noted at the International Airport. Even this total was still a bit short of the normal annual rainfall of 147.97 inches. It is interesting to note than the 2007 annual rainfall was approximately the same at Yap Island as at Palau. Normally, the annual rainfall at Yap is about 25 inches less than at Palau. In retrospect, it appears that the shift of the western North Pacific tropical cyclone tracks to the north and west of normal placed Yap Island in the path of more rain than at Palau, and at Yap State’s own southernmost island, Woleai.

Republic of Palau State Rainfall Summary 4th Quarter 2007

Climate Outlook: Palau has a complex pattern of monthly rainfall with the highest average rainfall in the months of June and July; the lowest average rainfall in the months of February, March and April; and a secondary minimum in September when the monsoon trough and typhoon tracks pull well to the north. During 2008, the normal dry months of February through May should see above average rainfall. Then, the normally wetter months of June and July should see rainfall amounts near normal. Tropical cyclone influence on Palau should be slightly enhanced in both the early part of the cyclone season (April through June), and again at the end of the year (late October through December). This means that Palau could experience one or two episodes of near-gale (25 to 35 mph) westerly winds associated with tropical cyclones passing to the north during April - June, and three or four such episodes of gusty winds and heavy showers during October - December. Because of its southerly location, it is not anticipated that Palau will experience a direct strike by a strong tropical storm or a typhoon, even though the risk of such an occurrence is considered to be slightly higher than average this year.

Forecast rainfall for Palau from February 2008 through January 2009 is as follows:

source: UOG-WERI