SEVERE weather since the weekend has brought what Météo France describes as “exceptional precipitation” to French Polynesia, with more than 900 litres per square metre recorded in the Papenoo area of Tahiti.
Daily rainfall records have been broken from Vairao to Afaahiti.
While a gradual improvement has begun on the Leeward Islands, Météo France warns that Tahiti must remain cautious until Wednesday due to saturated soils and the continued risk of thunderstorms.
Patrice Lechanteur, head of forecasting at Météo France Polynesia, explained that two trade wind flows converged – one “wetter and warmer,” influenced by two different cyclones. This collision caused air to rise, creating a large area of persistent rain, while upper-level disturbances, meant there was more cloud around.
Record amounts were recorded between May 10 and 11. Vairao received 237.3 millimetres in 24 hours, surpassing the 1969 record of 215.6 millimetres – the highest May daily rainfall in nearly 57 years. Afaahiti recorded 195.6 millimetres, compared to 156.8 millimetres in 2023.
“On the Society Islands, we collected very heavy, even exceptional, rainfall,” Lechanteur said. Since the weekend, many places have exceeded 400 to 500 litres per square metre, with more than 900 litres on Papenoo’s heights.
An improvement has begun on the Leeward Islands, now on yellow alert. Tahiti, however, remains on orange alert. The Tuamotus face the most severe conditions for another 24 to 36 hours, with improvement expected by Thursday. Lechanteur said that such a long and intense episode of rainfall is rare during the transition to the dry season.
Source: Radio1
