A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Rotuma, Yasawa Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby Smaller Islands, Northern Viti Levu, Northern Lau and Lomaiviti group.
At 10am today, Tropical Disturbance, TD03F was located near 11 degrees’ south latitude and 168 degrees’ east longitude or about 1010km west of Rotuma and about 1160km northwest of Nadi.
TD03F is moving east-southeast at about 20km/hr. TD03F is expected to intensify into a depression within the next 6 to 12 hours with average winds of 55km/hr. TD03F may further intensify into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 18 to 24 hours.
The disturbance is currently moving east at about 20km/hr and its centre is expected to be located about 590km west of Rotuma or about 920km northwest of Nadi at 10pm tonight and about 290km west of Rotuma or about 630 km north-northwest of Nadi at 10am tomorrow.
On its anticipated development and track, the system may bring damaging gale force winds over Rotuma, Yasawa Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Northern Viti Levu, Northern Lau and Lomaiviti Group in the next 24 to 36 hours.
For Rotuma, expect strong northwest winds with average speed of 50km/hr with gusts to 80km/hr possibly increasing to damaging gale force winds with average speed up to 65km/hr and momentary gusts to 90km/hr from around midday tomorrow. Expect periods of rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over Rotuma. Rain becoming frequent from later today with squally thunderstorms. Damaging heavy swells and sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is also anticipated.
For Yasawa Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Northern Viti Levu, Northern Lau and Lomaiviti Group, expect moderate to fresh southeast winds. Winds becoming strong with average speed of 50km/hr and momentary gusts to 80km/hr from tomorrow afternoon.
Winds may further increase to damaging gale force with average speed up to 65km/hr and momentary gusts to 90km/hr from tomorrow evening. Expect periods of rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms. Rain becoming frequent from later tomorrow.
For Mamanuca Group, Eastern Viti Levu and Kadavu and nearby smaller islands: Expect moderate to fresh southeast winds. Winds becoming strong with average speed of 50km/hr and momentary.
gusts to 80km/hr from tomorrow evening. Expect periods of rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms. Rain becoming frequent from later tomorrow.
For the rest of Fiji: expect moderate to fresh southeast winds. Winds becoming strong with average speed of 50km/hr and momentary gusts to 80km/hr from tomorrow evening. Expect occasional showers, heavy at times and few thunderstorms. Showers increasing to rain from later tomorrow.
Winds may cause larger branches of trees to shake and twigs breaking and it can be difficult to use an umbrella. Winds may also break tree branches and uproot shallow rooted trees as it picks up speed.
Mariners can expect southeast winds 20 to 25 knots and rough seas. Winds increasing to 25 to 30 knots and rough to rough seas from tomorrow. Winds may further increase to 35 to 40 knots and high seas over Yasawa Waters, Northern Vanua Levu Waters, Vatu-i-Ra Passage and Northern Koro Sea from tomorrow evening.
Currently, the following alerts and warnings remain in force:
A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for land areas and waters of Rotuma;
A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for all Fiji Waters;
A “Heavy Rain Warning” remains in force Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti Group and eastern half of Viti Levu.
A “Heavy Rain Alert” is now in force for the rest of Fiji
A “Flood Warning” remains in force for low lying areas adjacent to and downstream of Naqali Station and for low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams of the Rewa Catchment;
With more rain forecasted and soil already saturated, there is high risk of flash flooding of low lying and flood prone areas. The system has potential to produce more than 100mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
All communities living in flood prone and low lying areas are reminded to take all necessary precautions and remain alert, similarly for those living in landslide prone areas. Members of the public are advised to remain updated with the latest weather information and take alerts and warnings seriously.
The system is closely monitored and any alert and warning will be issued as and when necessary.
For more details and the latest on weather, please contact the National Weather Forecasting Centre on 6736006, 9905376 or visit the Fiji Meteorological Service’s website, www.met.gov.fj. You can also visit the Fiji Meteorological Service official Facebook page for latest updates.
VILIAME VEREIVALU
ACTING DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGY
