THE rainfall prediction model of the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) generally favours average or below average rainfall over most parts of the country through the September to November, 2018, period.
This was reported in a statement issued this week by Bipen Prakash, the acting Principal Scientific Officer (Climate) of the Climate Services Division at the Department of Meteorology, saying the confidences in the SCOPIC predictions at this time of the year ranged from moderate to very high.
“The global climate models also favour average or below average rainfall in the Fiji region during the same period,” Mr Prakash said in the statement.
“Rainfall activity is expected to pick up as the country progresses towards the wet season.”
But he said that the possible El Niño event suppressed rainfall and could delay the onset of the wet season, which normally began in November.
However, Mr Prakash said the air temperatures were likely to be normal or above normal during the September to November period, and the sea surface temperature in the Fiji region was expected to be normal or above normal during the September to November, 2018, period.
