$1.6 Million Project Allows for Forecast of Flash Floods

Fiji will soon have a unique system that will forecast flash floods in different parts of the country.

Known as the Fiji Flash Flood Guidance System, the $1.6 million project has been funded by the Canadian Government.

It is an initiative of the World Meteorological Organisation and the

system in Fiji is not only the first for the country but for the South Pacific too.

Director of Meteorology Misaele Funaki said the system would deal with areas that were affected by flash floods.

“There are two such uniquely made systems in the world. One is in Myanmar and the second one will be here in Fiji,” he said. “Papua New Guinea has a regional one and there is one in Africa which is for some countries there. “But the one for Fiji is unique and it has been funded through the Climate Resistance Early Warning System.

“As you know, there is a system to forecast the weather, but there is no forecasting system for floods. “With the flash flood guidance system, it’s a different ball game now because it will collect all data on the ground, where roads, villages, schools, rivers, creeks and streams are. We can make forecasting on floods now.”

Mr Funaki said weather forecasters would now be able to tell where floods are expected when they get the rainfall models, which gives an indication of where rain is expected.

“We are trying to get the system operational by the time the next cyclone season starts in November. But with trials and all, we should get it operational by December at the latest,” he said.

Seven staff members of the Fiji Meteorological Service will leave for San Diego in the United States of America tomorrow for training at the Hydrology Research Centre. Mr Funaki said the seven staff members would undergo training for three weeks on how to run the whole flash flood guidance system.