5 Nov 2015

Confirmation widespread Pacific dry continuing

6:28 pm on 5 November 2015
Dry creek bed

Dry creek bed Photo: Supplied

The November regional advisory on the potential for drought in the Pacific confirms much of the region will get less than normal rainfall over the next three months.

The Island Climate Update bulletin is produced by New Zealand's NIWA in association with the meteorological services in the island countries and supporting weather advisory bodies.

Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, which have been experiencing well below normal rainfall since the middle of the year, can expect below normal rain through to the end of January.

Parts of Fiji, Tonga and New Caledonia have been in drought for up to six months and below normal rain is likely to continue for the next three months.

It is also expected to be dry until the end of January in Solomon Islands, Samoa and the southern Cook Islands.

In the Marquesas, in French Polynesia, dry conditions are expected to return to normal or above normal in the next three months.