Fiji Weather
Trade winds are the predominant broad scale winds affecting Fiji and occur in all seasons with varying duration and intensity. The trade winds blow from the south-east towards the northwest, and as a result there is a strong windward – leeward component to the microclimate of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the two largest and most populated islands of Fiji. This in turn affects rainfall to a large extent and temperatures to a lesser extent. On the coast of these two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, day-time sea breezes blow with great regularity. The sea breeze strength is affected by the seasons; in summer when daylight hours exceed hours of darkness by 2 to 3 hours sea breezes are stronger than in winter when heating is reduced by fewer hours of daylight.
Winds over Fiji are generally light or moderate; strong winds are far less common and are most likely to occur in the period of June to October when the trade winds are most persistent. Tropical cyclones and depressions can cause winds of gale force or stronger from time to time, especially from November to April. See the TROPICAL CYCLONES section below for more information.