Monthy weather Bulletin : warmer temperatures raging in March and April

The Meteorological Services emitted its monthly weather bulletin on Wednesday. It is stated that January 2019 was in general warm and dry for most part of the month. However, the rain recorded at the end of the month was significant enough to bring the mean monthly rainfall recorded islandwise to 259 mm which is 99 % of the normal.

Temperature

According to the report of the Meteorological Services, January 2019 is the seventh warmest January on record since 1969 (based on maximum temperature recorded at Plaisance). It has been stated that the warm trend for summer 2018-2019 continued during January 2019. Across the island, several stations recorded maximum temperature anomalies of 2.0 °C. In certain localities, such anomalies persisted for more than half of the month, for instance Riche en Eau had 24 such days. The maximum temperature anomaly even locally reached 3 to 4 °C. The highest anomaly of 5.3 °C was recorded at Choisy Estate on the 08 and at Bois Cheri on the 05. 

The highest temperature recorded according to the report was 35.4 °C at Choisy Estate on the 08. From the 24 to 26, the following stations had new records of extreme maximum temperature for the month, Mon Desert Mon Tresor with 35°C (previous 33°C), Union Park MSIRI with 32°C (previous 31.7°C), Gros Cailloux with 33.9 °C (previous 33.5°C), Britannia with 32.1 °C (previous 32°C) and 34.4 °C (previous 34.1°C) on 24 at La Baraque. 

Additionally, the night time temperature was above the average by more than 1 °C and on some days by more than 2 °C. “On average night temperarure was close to normal except to the North and part of the central plateau and locally to the South. On the 16th, light wind conditions and clear sky caused the minimum temperature to plummet by more than 2 °C compared to the long term mean and new record in low minimum was recorded at Mon Desert Alma.”

Rainfall

Concerning Rainfall, it has been highlighted that the first fortnight of January was rather dry with a mean of 39 mm which represented only 35 % of the long term mean. “Very wet conditions prevailed over the island as from 25th till the end of the month representing 64 % of the long term mean. During the first 20 days rainfall was rather localised but on the last few days, a zone of instability gave widespread showers. A heavy rain warning was issued on 27th to 29th and a torrential rain warning was issued on 30th. Heaviest rainfall was concentrated to the South; about 400 mm of precipitation was recorded in 24 hours at Plaisance from 29th to 30th January. An excess rainfall of over 280 mm more than normal was recorded to the South, whereas to the West and over the Central Plateau it was locally deficient by up to 140 mm. The highest rainfall intensity was observed at Belle Mare on 25 where 84 mm was recorded within one hour.” 

Forecast for March and April 

For the upcoming month, it stated that the temperature will remain warmer than normal. There will be intra-seasonal variability in cyclone formation and rainfall amount over the South West Indian Ocean. Rainfall amount is expected to be slightly above normal for March and April. February rainfall will be close to normal (̴̴285mm), March is expected to be above normal with (̴̴320mm) and April is expected to be normal with (̴̴210mm). Day time maximum temperature will continue to remain above normal at most places due to above normal sea surface temperature and high humidity.