Climate Summary 2006 [Download the Summary from our Reports section]

Globally

The average global surface temperature in 2006 was approximately 0.5°C above the climatological normal of 1961-1990. This places 2006 therefore as probably the 6^th warmest year on record since global instrumental records started in 1861. All temperature values have uncertainties, which arise mainly from gaps in data coverage. The size of the uncertainties is such that the global average temperature for 2006 is statistically indistinguishable from, and could be anywhere between the first and eighth warmest year on record. The year 1998 remains with 0.59°C above normal, the warmest year since these instrumental records started.

Temperature extremes included a heat wave that affected a large portion of the USA during July (40°C), with 140 deaths in California. Hot weather also enveloped much of Europe during the summer with temperatures over 32°C; al least 50 deaths were blamed on this in Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

The global precipitation in 2006 was above the 1961-1990 average. Eastern China, India, the Philippines and northeastern USA experienced wetter than average conditions. While most parts of Australia, the west part of Canada, the Gulf Coast region of the USA experienced drier than normal conditions. In February about 500 mm fell during two weeks on an island of the Philippines, killing about 100 people. On the other hand, in May a dry spell in Northern China threatened the drinking water supply for about 14 million people.

Caribbean Area

The sea surface temperature (SST) of Caribbean Sea and the Northern Tropical Atlantic Ocean were warm at the beginning of the year 2006 with temperatures between 0.3°C and 0.7°C above normal. As the year progressed to the northern Hemisphere summer, the SST in the Caribbean Sea gradually became warmer (0.5 - 1.0°C above normal). During the second half of 2006, the SST in the Caribbean Sea and the Northern Tropical Atlantic Ocean stayed warm, about 0.5- 0.8°C above normal.

The year 2006 began with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a weak La Niña, which had originally developed in the last months of 2005. By April and May the SST of the equatorial Pacific had warmed as the La Niña transformed to a neutral phase. In October a weak El Niño developed and by December the SST in the eastern equatorial Pacific was more than 1.0˚C above normal.

In May heavy rains produced the worst disaster in the interior of Suriname. The flooding was immense; about 15.000 square km were submerged and at least 25.000 people were affected.

Hurricane Season 2006

The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season was much quieter than the previous record breaking 2005 season. It produced nine named (and one unnamed) storms of which five became hurricanes and two became major (category three or more) hurricanes. These numbers are near the long-term averages. However, the season was compact and the amount of four hurricanes that formed during September is above the long-term average for that month.

The Caribbean Area remained almost hurricane free; only Ernesto became briefly a minimal hurricane near southwestern Haiti. Three systems made landfall in the United States as tropical storms. No hurricanes hit the United States this year which is the first time this has occurred since 2001.

In addition, a July weather system over the Atlantic south of Nova Scotia, Canada was reexamined by the National Hurricane Center as part of its standard post-storm analysis process and it was determined that it qualified as an unnamed tropical cyclone.

Tropical storm Gordon caused hurricane force wind gusts on Santa Maria in the Azores and as an extratropical low did the same in portions of Spain and the British Isles. As a tropical cyclone it caused minor damage in the Azores and as an extratropical low it caused wind damage and power outages in Spain, Britain and Ireland.

As far as our islands are concerned, the SSS Islands were briefly threatened by tropical storm Chris during the first couple of days of August. Tropical storm warnings were issued by the Meteorological Service for these islands but this system however stayed at a safe distance north of St. Maarten and only caused a few showers with westerly winds over these islands.

Tropical storm Ernesto developed later that same month over the southeastern Caribbean Area and briefly appeared to become a potential threat to the ABC Islands. A few cautionary Information Advisories were issued on August 24 and the next day but issuance of these was discontinued after this system moved away toward the northwest.

General conditions Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao

In general the atmospheric and the oceanic conditions were not favorable for rainfall events during 2006. However, the annual rainfall on the islands was diverse. On Bonaire only 217.2 mm (about 47% below normal) was recorded at the Flamingo Airport. At Hato Airport the annual rainfall was 400 mm (27.7% below normal) and the average for rainfall stations on Curaçao was 537.1 mm (5.9% below normal). On the other hand, the annual rainfall for Aruba was 611.0 mm (49% above normal).

Isolated heavy thunderstorms during the rainy season caused heavy rainfall on different occasions, which contributed to the above normal annual rainfall.

General conditions St. Maarten, St, Eustatius and Saba

The atmospheric and the oceanic conditions were also favorable for rainfall events in the northeastern Caribbean during 2006. The annual rainfall at the Princess Juliana Airport, St Maarten was 1671.6 mm (about 60% above the normal). As a result of a low level disturbance, heavy thunderstorms formed during October and a new monthly record of 361.2 mm was established. The 24-hour rainfall on October 20 (192.8 mm) is also a new record. The annual rainfall recorded at Windward side (1284.2 mm) on Saba was also above normal. In contrast, the annual rainfall (788.2 mm) at Roosevelt Airport on St. Eustatius 18.6% was below normal.

Rainfall Outlook 2007