8 Sep 2010

Decision due tomorrow on whether Fiji is in official drought

6:16 pm on 8 September 2010

Fiji's Met Service is warning people to prepare for more dry weather with the country experiencing one of the longest drought periods it's had in years.

Chief Research Scientist, Dr Sushil Sharma, says there's been minimal rainfall since May last year, which is unusually long.

He says the ongoing dry spell has already resulted in water being delivered to outer islands.

But he says the country should get torrential rain before the end of the year.

"I have advised people that there is no quick fix. We just have to ride this dry season for the next two and half months or so, which will be very trying times for Fiji. And wait for rains to start late November / December. And due to La Nina, we're expecting average to above average rainfalls in the December to April period."

Dr Sushil Sharma says a decision is expected to be made tomorrow on whether a nationwide drought will be officially declared.