:eather Summary for Fiji Volume 2: Issue 12 December 2002 Islands œ December 2002 Rainfall Outlook till March 2003 [email protected]+%D ,n Brief Inside this issue: December saw a marked reduction in rainfall ern Division this month. Deficiencies were over the entire country with Western and North- being reported from areas half way between ern Divisions and islands in the Eastern Division Sigatoka and Nadi to as far as Rakiraki. experiencing very dry conditions. This is the There were reports from rural communities In Brief and Weather 1 Patterns third consecutive month of below average rain- of wells and creeks drying up in several ar- fall in the Western Division. eas. Rainfall in the last three 2 months As is typical during El Niño events, the main Tropical Cyclone Zoe was closest to Fiji rain-producing weather system, the South Pacific when it passed 290km to the West of Nadi Temp. and RR Graphs for 3 Convergence Zone, was further north of its nor- on the 31st. The passage of the cyclone re- Suva, Nadi & Labasa mal position this month until the formation of sulted in rain over most places with strong Tropical Cyclone Zoe. With the SPCZ being fur- to marginal gale force winds about the Other Climatic variables 4 ther north Fiji experienced a hot and humid trade western and southwestern parts of the coun- regime till the 24th. try. SOI & Prospects for Up- 5 With dry conditions persisting, emergency water Total sunshine hours were around average coming Three Months was delivered to just about all parts of the West- across the country. Figures and Preliminary 6 Weather Patterns Climatological Summary December began with fine weather experienced Southeastern parts of the country experienced in most parts of the country. On the 2nd, a tropi- some showers while fine and hot weather FMS Rainfall forecast 7 cal disturbance developed to the northeast of Fiji prevailed over the rest of the group. then later moved southwest, bringing showers to rd th th AusRain Rainfall forecast 8 the northern and eastern areas on the 3 and 4 . On the 24 , a tropical depression was identi- Later on the 4th, the disturbance developed into a fied along a convergence zone near Rotuma. depression as it moved southeast and was up- This depression gradually intensified and de- graded to Tropical Cyclone Yolande on the 5th. veloped into Tropical Cyclone Zoe on the 26th. The cyclone took a southwest track ini- In the meantime, the country was mostly affected tially and turned southeast later. As a conse- by a dry south to southeast wind flow. Yolande quence, Western Viti levu, Yasawa and was later downgraded to a depression twelve Mamanuca Group, Kadavu, Vatulele and the Further Information: hours after it was declared a cyclone. As ex- nearby smaller islands were placed on strong tropical cyclone Yolande, moved further south- wind warning on the 30th. These warnings The Director east on the 6th, a weak ridge of high pressure es- continued till the end of the month. Tropical Fiji Meteorological tablished to the southwest of Fiji. This ridge be- Cyclone Zoe was closest to the group on New Service came the dominant weather feature from the 7th Years Eve producing rain over most places Private Mail Bag NAP till the 14th maintaining an east and southeast air and strong to marginal gale force winds 0351 stream over the country, which produced trade about the western and southwestern parts of Nadi Airport showers about the southeastern parts of the the country. Fiji group, while the rest of the country experienced Ph: (679) 672 4888 mostly fine weather. The South Pacific Convergence Zone and Fax: (679) 672 0430 troughs frequently affected Rotuma in De- th On the 15 , a trough with associated low- cember, bringing rain and isolated thunder- Email: [email protected] pressure system moved over the Lau group and storms. A strong wind warning was issued th th Web Site: www.met.gov.fj by the 16 , moved across the rest of the country for Rotuma on the 26 , as a result of Tropical producing moderate rainfall. The trough later Cyclone Zoe and was later cancelled on the retrogressed over the group on the 17th and re- 28th. mained slow moving till the 21st. This resulted in heavy rainfall about the southern and eastern parts of the country. The trough finally moved to the north on the 22nd, giving way to a ridge. The rd ridge became more pronounced on the 23 and remained the dominant feature for next six days. P3age 2 Weather Summary for Fiji Islands – December 2002 Rainfall Outlook till March 2003 TRAaBinLfaEll 1 f:r oRma Jiunnfea tlol Afruogumst O 20c0to2b foerr s teole cDtedc estmatbioenrs 2ac0r0o2s s Fiji Station Actual Rain- Has rainfall in the last No. of Rain No. of Rain No. of Rain fall (mm) three months been below days in Oct. days in Nov. days in Dec. average, average or above (% of total rain) (% of total rain) (% of total rain) average? Penang Mill 93.8* (Most likely Below Average)* 11 09 06* Monasavu 938.9* (Most likely Average)* 21 27 15* Vatukoula Mine 161.4 Below Average 06 (29) 13 (56) 05 (15) Rarawai Mill, Ba 133.4 Below Average 08 (37) 09 (28) 02 (35) Yasawa-I-Rara NA NA No data No data No data Viwa Island NA NA 52.2mm (4) 81.6mm (8) No data Lautoka 143.5 Below Average 07 (27) 14 (38) 09 (35) Nadi Airport 195.6 Below Average 07 (20) 12 (67) 09 (13) Nacocolevu 232.1 Below Average 04 (14) 09 (44) 11 (42) Navua 761.3 Average 19 (20) 20 (52) 21 (28) Laucala Bay, Suva 759.9 Average 20 (18) 24 (53) 22 (29) Nausori Airport 547.7 Average 17 (19) 17 (41) 22 (40) Nabouwalu 476.5 Average 20 (20) 24 (44) 26 (36) Labasa Airport 306.1 Below Average 10 (38) 10 (26) 15 (36) Savusavu Airport 599.5 Average 14 (23) 21 (48) 19 (29) Udu Point NA NA 306.1mm (15) 277.4mm (13) No data Matei Airport 641.4 Average 23 (30) 23 (34) 23 (36) Lakeba 280.7 Average 23 (30) 08 (18) 15 (52) Matuku NA NA 70.0mm (11) 95.4mm (14) No data Ono-I-Lau 117.5 Below Average 07 (24) 04 (68) 03 (08) Vunisea, Kadavu 313.3 Average 16 (20) 16 (35) 16 (45) Rotuma 820.0 Below Average 23 (29) 27 (38) 24 (33) * - No observations were conducted at Penang Mill between 23-31st December 2002. - Data for the period 18-31st December has not been received for Monasavu. - Data for Yasawa-I-Ra has not been received for the last three months and Viwa, Udu Point and Matuku for December. Rainfall in the last three months Rainfall in December above. The skill level of the forecast for the above period Rainfall has ranged from average to well below average in De- was low to moderate. cember with well below average (less than 50%) recorded in In the last three months rainfall has been below average in the the whole of the Western Division and below average the Western Division, Labasa and Ono-I-Lau. Others parts of the north-western parts of the Northern Division. Ono-I-Lau also country have recorded average rainfall. A number of sites recorded well below average with a new record set this month. have experienced significantly below average rainfall (less The Central Division recorded between 56 and 98% of normal than 50%) in the last three consecutive months. These are rainfall. Rakiraki, Vatukoula, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi Airport and Ono-I- Lau. Rainfall in the three-months from October to Decem- ber The Rainfall forecast for period from September to November in the September Fiji Islands Weather Summary was for rain- fall to be below average to average across the country except for Rotuma where rainfall was predicted to be average to P3age 3 Weather Summary for Fiji Islands – December 2002 Rainfall Outlook till March 2003 Figure A Nadi Airport - Temperature & Rainfall Records for the Last 13 Months Monthly Total Rainfall (December 2001 - December 2002) 35 400 Long-Term 30 350 Rainfall 25 300 Averages 250 (1971-00) 20 200 15 Monthly 150 Average 10 100 millimetres Maximum degree celsius Temperature 5 50 0 0 Monthly dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sept oct nov dec Average Minimum month Temperature Figure B Labasa Airfield - Temperature & Rainfall Records for the Last 13 Months Monthly (December 2001 - December 2002) Total Rainfall 35 900 800 30 Long-Term 700 Rainfall 25 600 Averages 20 500 (1971-00) 15 400 Monthly Average 300 millimetres 10 degree celsius 200 Maximum Temperature 5 100 0 0 Monthly Average dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sept oct nov dec Minimum month Temperature Figure C Laucala Bay/Suva - Temperature & Rainfall Records for the Last 13 Months Monthly Total (December 2001 - December 2002) Rainfall 35 600 30 500 Long-Term Rainfall 25 400 Averages (1971-00) 20 300 Monthly 15 Average 200 millimetres Maximum degree celsius 10 Temperature 5 100 Monthly 0 0 Average Minimum dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sept oct nov dec Temperature month P3age 4 Weather Summary for Fiji Islands – December 2002 Rainfall Outlook till March 2003 Climate in December Mean Day-time and Night-time Air Temperatures and 0900 hrs Relative Humidity Day-time temperatures across the country varied around Relative Humidity (RH) at 0900hrs varied around aver- average. The greatest positive departure from normal age across the country with Rarawai Mill, Ba recording was at Rarawai, Ba and Lautoka which recorded the highest negative departure (8%) and Vatukoula monthly averages 1.6 and 1.1oC respectively above (4%).