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MEDIA RELEASE No.9

10am Monday 04th January 2016

SEVERE ULA

STORM WARNING WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR , OGEA, AND ONO-I-LAU IS CANCELLED.

A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ONO-I-LAU AND VATOA.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF LAU GROUP, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN VITILEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, KADAVU, VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI AND THE NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula (CAT3) was located near 21.6 degrees South latitude and 180.0 degrees longitude or about 170km west-southwest of Ono-i-lau or about 310km south- southwest of at 6am this morning. Close to its centre, the cyclone is expected to have average winds of 150km/hr and momentary gusts to 205km/hr.

TC Ula approached the Southern Lau Group from east and passed between Ogea and Vatoa around mid-day yesterday. It continues to track southwest, moving away from the Southern Lau Group at about 16km/hr.

On this track, the cyclone is expected to lie about 275km southwest of Ono-i-lau or about 415km south-southwest of Kabara at 1pm today and about 335km southwest of Ono-i-lau or about 495km south-southwest of Kabara at 7am tomorrow morning.

TC Ula is expected to gradually weaken in the next 12 to 24 hours, slow down on the current track and anticipated to track north westwards. It poses no direct threat to at this stage.

FOR ONO-I-LAU AND VATOA: Damaging gale force winds with speeds of 75km/hr and momentary gusts to 100km/hr. Damaging gale force winds is expected to ease during the next 6 hours as TC Ula moves further away. Periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms. Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas.

FOR THE REST OF LAU GROUP, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN VITILEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, KADAVU, VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI AND THE NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS: Strong southwest to northwest winds with average speed of 45km/hr gusting to 65km/hr. Occasional rain, heavy at times.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI: Moderate to fresh west to southwest winds, gusty at times. Occasional rain, heavy at times.

FOR MARINERS: FOR SOUTHERN LAU WATERS AND SOUTHERN KORO SEA: Expect winds of hurricane force and phenomenal seas within 15 Nautical miles of centre. Storm force winds and very high seas out to about 35 nautical miles from centre. Gale force and high seas out to about 90 nautical miles in northern semicircle and 110 nautical miles in southern semicircle from centre. Damaging heavy swells.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI WATERS: Southwest to northwest winds 20 to 30 knots with gusts to 45 knots. Rough to very rough seas. Moderate to heavy swells.

Fig 1: Tropical Cyclone Ula Forecast Track Map issued from RSMC Nadi at 8am on Monday 4th January, 2016.

Fig 2: Mean Sea-Level Pressure chart issued from RSMC Nadi at 7am on Monday 04th January, 2016.

TC Ula

Fig 3: Colourised Infrared satellite imagery at 6:30am on Monday 4th January, 2016. -The white star indicates the supposed low level circulation centre of Severe TC Ula. -The darker red is indicative of areas of heavy rainfall in a rain band.

Fig 4: Latest composite radar image at 8.30pm on Sunday 3rd January, 2016. Rewa Catchment River Level (m) Warning Level (m) STATUS 6am Nabukaluka 1.39 5.0 Normal Navolau 1.83 8.0 Normal Waimanu 1.96 5.0 Normal Nayavu 0.95 8.0 Normal Nausori Bridge 2.33 6.0 Normal Wailotua 0.78 3.5 Normal Navua Catchment River Level (m) Warning Level (m) STATUS 6am Navua Town 0.45 2.5 Normal Sabata 0.50 6.0 Normal Rakiraki River Level (m) Warning Level (m) STATUS Catchment 6am Vaileka Town 0.36 2.0 Normal Vatukacevaceva 0.12 1.5 Normal Sigatoka River Level (m) Warning Level (m) STATUS Catchment 6am Tuva 1.82 4.5 Normal Keyasi 1.08 5.0 Normal Sigatoka Bridge 1.06 4.5 Normal Table 1: River levels are normal in all major catchments. Location Wind Direction Wind Speed Maximum Gusts (knots) (knots) Vanuabalavu WSW 24 33 Lakeba WSW 24 33 Ono-i-lau NE 51 74

Table 2: Maximum wind speed and gusts recorded from 6pm on Sunday 3rd to 6am on Monday 04th January 2016.

Location 24-hr Rainfall (mm) Nadi Airport 13.8 Suva/Laucala Bay Nil Nacocolevu 11.0 Lakeba 22.0 Matuku 13.5 Korolevu 11.0 Momi 13.0

Table 3: Rainfall from 9am on the 2nd January to 9am on the 3rd of January, 2015.

It is advisable that people are to remain prepared at all times and keep updated with the latest weather bulletins. Keep listening to the radio for the updated information and take alerts and warnings seriously. For more details and the latest on weather, please contact the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre on 6736006, 9905376 or visit the Fiji Meteorological Service’s website, www.met.gov.fj

ENDS.

R KUMAR Director of Meteorology for Permanent Secretary Infrastructure & Transport