18 new highs in 2019

In 2019, 18 new high temperature records were established around the country, said the Fiji Climate report released by the Fiji Meteorological Service.

Fiji continued to record above-average annual temperature and the decade 20102019 was the warmest on record.

Fiji’s average rainfall recorded during 2019 was 2414mm. This ranks 2019 as the 22nd wettest year on record.

Rainfall recorded during 2019 was average to above average at most stations around the country.

The variation in annual sunshine hours amongst the various stations was not significant.

The highest mean annual 10-minutes average wind speed was recorded at Yaswa-iRara with 22.9km/hr, followed by Rakiraki with 22.0km/hr, Ono-i-Lau and Udu-Point with 19.9km/hr.

The sea level at the Lautoka SEAFRAME station for the period October 1992 to December 2019 showed an increasing trend of +3.6mm/year which is statistically significant (95 per cent confidence level).

In 2019, six tropical cyclones formed in the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre Nadi (RSMC-Nadi) area of responsibility. Three TCs (Pola, Oma & Rita) further developed and attained Category 3 intensity, two (2) Category 2 TCs and one Category 1 TC.