The first Fiji Meteorological Service Office for the North will soon be set up following the ground breaking ceremony this week.

And this weather office located at Vaturekuka outside Labasa Town will enable the people in the Northern Division to receive timely routine weather bulletins, alerts, warnings and advisories from this office.

Fiji Meteorological Service director, Ravind Kumar said it would accommodate the meteorological staff currently based at the Department of Works Office in Labasa. It would upgrade meteorological operations from observational status to weather forecasting, climate prediction, public education, weather information to the general public, awareness to schools and stakeholders.

“The department has stations that spread around Vanua Levu with limited capability to provide value added services,” Mr Kumar said.

“The central office in Labasa will provide better access to weather, climate and hydrology services which will assist communities in poverty alleviation, protection of life and property, disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation and other benefits.”

Mr Kumar said there was need in establishing a weather office in Labasa to provide for the public because of the demand in weather and climate information around the country. This came from tertiary institutes, business communities, scientific communities and other organisations as a result of the change in the global weather pattern that was currently happening around the world and within our country. This brings about extremes weather condition.

“The people of Vanua Levu will be able to get the same benefits as our people in Suva and Nadi with weather, climate and hydrological services,” he said.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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