VICTORIA, Seychelles, Rainfall will be lower than normal during the months of February, March and April based on the outlook of the Seychelles Meteorological Authority. Seychelles Meteorological Authority chief executive Vincent Amelie explained that the rainy season is weakening, with the only month where significant rain is forecast being March. The outlook suggests that the country should prepare for drier and hotter conditions in the coming weeks.
According to Mr Amelie, December 2023 was a record-breaking month, as the wettest December ever recorded in Seychelles. Over 4,000 millimetres of rain was recorded for the month, more than double the 400 millimetres average. Heavy rainfall on December 6 caused landslides and flooding, resulting in fatalities and significant infrastructure damage in certain areas. The contrast between December’s record rainfall and the current dry spell highlights the extreme variability of weather patterns.
Although January is usually the peak of the rainy season, recorded rainfall was just above half of the 450-millimetre average. Moving into February, temperatures soared with less rain, attributed primarily to the delayed onset of the cyclone season in the south-west Indian Ocean. When depressions and cyclones form in the region, it can have one of two effects: either it brings rain, known as the cyclone’s tail, or it brings no rain at all, depending on its position.
Because the cyclone season started late, it mostly impacted the southern part of the region, affecting islands like Mauritius. This pulled the rain-bearing systems away from Seychelles, leading to drier and hotter conditions. The highest temperature recorded during January this year was 34.2 degrees Celsius. Although this is high, the highest ever recorded temperature in Seychelles was 37.4 degrees Celsius, recorded in a previous year.
Minimum temperatures also rose to 26.9 degrees Celsius during the month, significantly higher than the typical range of 23 to 24 degrees Celsius. Mr Amelie noted that over the last 10 to 15 years, the temperature is continuously increasing, both in terms of minimum and maximum temperatures, influenced by climate change. The SMA has urged the public to take precautions against the heat and to use water sparingly during the dry period.
