The Samoa Meteorological Service is monitoring a low-pressure system off the coast of Fiji.
Yesterday, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (A.C.E.O), Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, said there is a chance that it may develop into a cyclone. The system in question formed off the North-East of Fiji and according to Mulipola, his department expects it to track away from Samoa.
“It will be named Kofi if it does develop into a cyclone,” he said.
The Service’s Principal Scientific Weather Officer, Luteru Tauvale, said he has seen evidence of “convective activities in the region between Fiji and the Solomon Islands.”
The term “convection” has several related meanings when it comes to weather, but it always involves rising air.
“These convections, if they persist for the next 24-48 hours, might result in a tropical cyclone,” Mr. Tauvale said.
“We are monitoring that situation to see if there is any chance. Depending on the change of the environment over that region, a cyclone might develop or might not develop.
“But as I said, we are waiting for another 24-48 hours for a clearer picture of that system.”
In regards to hot and humid weather we are experiencing, Mr. Tauvale said at this time of year, these conditions are normal and are to be expected.
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“We are still in the wet season for Samoa which is also the season for tropical cyclones - from October to April,” he said.
“The winds are mostly from the North which brings in hot and warm air from the equator, resulting in hot days. This also results in forming clouds and hence the rain.”
He said as the air is hot and wet this means the humidity is very high, which is also normal for this time of year.
“Our records and observations show that humidity has varied between 80-100 per cent for most of this season,” said Mr. Tauvale.
“And yes, the more heat, means the more water that is evaporated and stays in the atmosphere in the form of gas or water vapour. Thus higher humidity.”
He said at present there is a broad area of low atmospheric pressure in the Pacific region. “This is due to hot days and warm Sea Surface Temperatures,” he said.
“When the atmospheric pressure is low, the air over that area becomes light making it easy to rise.
“When the hot air rises, air from the surrounding environment it will rush in to fill the empty space resulting in a lot of interesting weather.
“For example wind convergence, which supports rain formation, also results in large wind circulation which may later develop into tropical cyclones.”
He emphasised however that nearly all low-pressure systems do not develop into bad weather such as cyclones.
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