The Fiji Meteorological Service has warned that several parts of the country could face very dry conditions over the next three months, raising concerns for water supplies, farming and crop production.
In its latest Early Action Rainfall Watch, Fiji Met said there was a medium to high chance of very dry conditions between May and July 2026 for the Mamanuca Group, the Ba to Nacocolevu corridor, parts of interior Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and the southern Lau Group.
The weather office said the outlook could affect rainwater tanks, streams, rivers and agricultural production if dry conditions persist.
“For May to July 2026, there is medium to high chance of Very Dry conditions for the Mamanuca Group, Ba to Nacocolevu area, parts of interior Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and the southern Lau Group,” the report stated.
Fiji Met also noted that very dry conditions were already being experienced in parts of the country.
On a three-month timescale, very dry conditions exist in Savusavu, the Natewa coastal areas, parts of Taveuni and Koro Island.
For the shorter outlook period between May 15 and 28, the weather office said there was also a medium chance of very dry conditions for Nadi, Sigatoka, the Coral Coast, Monasavu, interior Viti Levu, Vatulele, Navua, Suva, Koronivia, the southern half of Kadavu, Ono-i-Lau and parts of the southern Lau Group.
The report warned that prolonged dry weather could affect crops including sugarcane, vegetables, rice, cassava, taro, kumala, pineapple, pawpaw and kava depending on the duration of below-average rainfall.
It said the three-month outlook period was particularly critical for rainwater tanks, small streams, shallow bores and young sugarcane.
Fiji Met also confirmed that an El Niño Watch remained in place, indicating an increased likelihood of drier-than-normal conditions developing across parts of Fiji later in the year.
However, the weather office noted that no extreme rainfall alert was currently in place for most parts of the country.
