Well What Do You Know? "We've seen a complete change of climate and weather patterns," Says Tonga Resident

It’s got very cold in the Tonga archipelago on the edge of the tropical south Pacific. 9.3C to be precise! Normally, ‘cold’ weather is 18C. Not since 1994 has it been this chilly. Tonga of course is Ground Zero for the Hunga Tonga subsea volcanic eruption of Jan 22 which now looks like it’s heating the planet, as I explained here:

What was also pointed out in that post was the potential for significant changes in weather and circulation patterns across the globe caused by the ejection of aerosols and water vapour into the stratosphere. Here in Britain we’ve had a very cool, wet windy July and first part of August because the jet stream is ‘stuck’ in a southerly position (which is also causing the heatwaves in southern Europe). Now it seems that Tonga itself is suffering very cold weather caused by an unusual flow of air south from Antarctica.

Beanies, scarves and puffer jackets come out as near-record chilly weather hits parts of the Pacific

But last week, the country recorded its second-lowest temperature ever, at 9.3 degrees Celsius.

According to Tonga Meteorological Services, the lowest temperature recorded in the country was 8.7C in September 1994.

The near-record low temperature was so chilly that residents are walking around with beanies, scarves and puffer jackets.

Tonga's location near the edge of the tropics, a developing El Niño event and a weather system that has channelled air from south of the country have likely helped drive the colder temperatures.

"The major factor in this case will be the flow of air from further south coming up into this region bringing cooler temperatures," Professor Janette Lindesay from the ANU's Fenner School of Environment and Society told the ABC.

The conditions in Tonga are being felt across the region, with puffer jackets and beanies being seen in Fiji and colder temperatures recorded in Samoa.

Samoa Meteorological Services assistant chief executive Afaese Dr Luteru Tauvale said Samoa's average maximum temperature was around 28C or 29C.

He said some places near the capital were hitting the low 20s this week.  

As the world continued to feel the impacts of climate change, Dr Tauvale said predicting weather patterns in the region would become more "complicated".   

"We've seen a complete change of climate and weather patterns," he said.

"You know, we are in a transition. [For example] we are experiencing heavy rain from time to time. And it's a very big challenge for not only for Samoa, but for the whole of the Pacific.  

"It's a global challenge."

It certainly is a global challenge Dr Tauvale, but I suspect the cause right now is not ‘climate change’ but the massive volcano which erupted on your doorstep just 18 months ago which, curiously, the article does not mention at all. That’s a very strange omission.