Temperatures drop to as low as 12.7 °C, says Weather Office

Temperatures in Fiji have dropped to as low as 12.7 degree celsius. Fiji Meteorological Service forecaster, Samit Prasad, said between Wednesday 9am and Thursday 9am, the lowest temperature recorded was 12.7°C in Nadarivatu, Ra, 16.3°C were recorded at Monasavu and 16 °C in the interiors.

On Monday and Tuesday, the interior of Viti Levu at Nadarivatu, Keiyasi, Lomaivuna and Monasavu recorded temperatures between 14°C and 16 °C. While in Nadi and Suva, the minimum drop in temperature was 17 °C to 18°C. Mr Prasad said the cold was due to the high-pressure system located to the South of Fiji.

“What happens is the cold air masses from the Tasman Sea has been directed over to our area,” he said.

“The air is really cold and dry that is why the temperature is low for us, especially in the interior.

“At night, the land cools down quickly because of no heat and because of this cold and dry air masses from the south.”

Rainfall: Suva reported 43.3 millimetres (mm), Nausori had 47 mm, Udu point 59 mm, Nadi 5.2 mm, Yaqara 1 mm, Bukuya 10.5 mm, Nadarivatu 3.5 mm, and Momi reported 3.5 mm of rainfall. Mr Prasad said Levuka had reported the maximum rainfall which was 90.5 mm.

He said most of the rain was concentrated over the Northern, Eastern and Central Divisions. Mr Prasad said the rain was brought over due to a trough of low pressure that was situated to the north of Vanua Levu along with the trade winds which Fiji always experienced with showers. “This was enhanced due to the fact that trough of low pressure already present over the Lau Group,” he said.