The influence of Synoptic Weather Phenomena on Vanuatu Rainfall.

This study investigates the day-to-day variability of rainfall in Vanuatu and the weather systems that cause it; a topic that has so far received little attention. The main weather features that contribute to rainfall are tropical cyclones, fronts and convergence lines. Fronts contribute the most rainfall, followed by convergence lines. Tropical cyclones contribute the least rainfall. Extreme rainfall events in Vanuatu are mostly caused by fronts and convergence lines. Tropical cyclones cause only a few events. The weather features and their rainfall are strongly influenced by El Nino-Southern Oscillation. The findings of this study will benefit local weather forecasting knowledge.