Real drought hits now
20-Nov-2009 08:40 AM

CATASTROPHIC effects of a major El Nino are now being experienced in the country.
After months of warnings issued by the Fiji Meteorological Centre extremely dry weather spells are experienced in Fiji since last month.

Very less or nil rainfall is being experienced around major parts of the country with very hot and humid weather conditions also being felt.

Director Meteorology Rajendra Prasad said yesterday that the dry spell commenced in the second half of September in parts of Fiji and has since spread and escalated to at least a meteorological drought in most parts of the country.

Prasad revealed that the well below average rainfall trend observed in October is continuing this month and most likely should be maintained through December into early 2010.

“All this is due to the El Nino phenomenon which has recently developed from weak to moderate strength. El Nino is causing weather system associated with rainfall (e.g. approaching troughs and SPCZ) to weaken as they approach Fiji region, thus resulting in suppressed rainfall.

“A good example is the trough of low pressure expected to affect Fiji this week. The system is weakening and not expected to bring much in form of rainfall to most parts of Fiji .

“Though the El Nino phenomenon appeared a few months back in a weak form, its slow progression and the typically observed lag effect meant Fiji ’s rainfall was not affected until recently. For example, the country experienced very good rainfall in the 1st half of September and in most the year before that. As warned by FMS, the effect has come quite suddenly and dramatically.”

He added that according to present indications, the El Nino effect should enter into January 2010 but it is difficult to predict beyond that!

Prasad pointed out that most likely, and as observed with past drought events, the drought may be broken by a series of heavy rainfall incidents which could produce flooding.

Meanwhile, Fiji was last hit by a major drought during the 1997 to 1998 rainy season.

By Sanjay Goundar