FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE GOVERNMENT OF REPUBLIC OF

MEDIA RELEASE No. 12

4pm, Tuesday, 15 December, 2020

TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT NOW IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA AND PARTS OF FIJI

Warnings

A Alert is now in force for and Mamanuca Group, northern half of (from Nadi through to Korovou), northern half of (from Nabouwalu through to Votua to through to Udu Point) and Rotuma; it will be in force for the rest of the group from tomorrow. A Heavy Rain Warning is now in force for the Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, eastern half of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands. A Heavy Rain Alert is now in force for the rest of the Fiji Group. A Flash Flood Alert remains in force for the low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams for the interior of the main island; upper Nadarivatu, Monasavu, upper Wainimala, upper Sigatoka and upper Nadi catchment. A Gale Warning remains in force for open waters between Fiji and Rotuma. Situation Tropical cyclone Yasa has rapidly intensified and developed further into a category 4 system at midday today. TC Yasa was located near 15.0 south latitude and 172.7 east longitude or about 555km west-northwest of Yasawa-i-Rara at 12pm today. The system Yasa is currently moving east-northeast at about 7 knots or 14 kilometers per hour. TC Yasa is expected to intensify and upgrade into a category 5 system as it moves closer to the group on Thursday. On the forecasted track TC Yasa is expected to be located about 475km west- northwest off Yasawa-i-Rara or 445 northwest off Viwa or 430km west-southwest off Rotuma at midday tomorrow. By midday on Thursday the cyclone is expected to be located about 175km northwest of Yasawa-i-Rara or 260km north-northwest off Nadi. Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Zazu (category 2) is currently over and is expected to drift southeastwards away from Tonga and posing no direct threat to the Fiji Group.

Forecast A moist easterly wind flow prevails over the group bringing occasional rain and thunderstorms over the country. As TC Yasa moves closer to the northwest of the group tomorrow, it will bring about strong winds with average speeds of 45km per hour gusting to 65km per hour over the whole of Fiji. These winds are not destructive but will be dangerous for those navigating Fiji Waters. Very destructive winds with average speed of 165km per hour gusting up to 230km per hour is expected over Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, western parts of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu early on Thursday and gradually affect the rest of the group from later Thursday. These winds can cause widespread destruction to properties and infrastructure, severe disruption of electrical power distribution and communication services. It can also cause total damage to crops and vegetation.

Continuous heavy rain will start to affect the group from tomorrow. Due to anticipated widespread heavy rain, there is risk of river flooding and flash flooding of low lying and flood prone areas. With the ground already saturated, there is also risk of landslides in landslide prone areas.

As TC Yasa moves closer towards the group, high waves of possibly more than 6 meters is expected which poses the risk of storm surge and coastal inundation along coastlines of Fiji especially over Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, northern half of Viti Levu and northern half of Vanua Levu from Thursday. The high waves will be enhanced during high tides. Sea conditions will be too dangerous for sailing and other sea activities. Adverse weather conditions is anticipated to persist over the country until Saturday and expected to start easing from Sunday. The current situation is closely monitored and any alert and warning will be issued as and when significant changes are anticipated. Members of the public are advised to remain updated with the latest weather information. 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, Twitter and Instagram for latest updates.

Figure 1: Weather map at 12pm on 15 December, 2020. Figure 2: Flood alert and water level status at 2pm on 15 December, 2020.

Figure 3: Forecasted track map for Tropical Cyclone Yasa [Category 4] at 12pm on 15 December, 2020.

Figure 4: Forecasted threat map for Tropical Cyclone Yasa [Category 4] at 12pm on 15 December, 2020.

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