FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE GOVERNMENT OF REPUBLIC OF FIJI

MEDIA RELEASE No.57

3pm, Sunday 01 April 2018

TD12F DEVEOPED INTO CATEGORY 1 CYCLONE, TC JOSIE

Tropical Depression, TD12F rapidly intensified and developed into a Category 1 (CAT1) cyclone last night. It has been named Josie.

TC Josie was located near 19.7 south latitude and 176.9 east longitude or about 160km west- southwest of Kadavu or about 230km south-southwest of Nadi at midday today.

The cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 75km/hr with momentary gusts to 100km/hr and moving south-southeast at about 16km/hr and expected to move out of Fiji Waters in next 24 hours. On this track, the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 140km west-southwest of Kadavu at midnight tonight and about 220km south of Kadavu at midday tomorrow.

For Northern and Southern parts of Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Southern Lau Group, expect damaging force winds with average speeds up to 75 km/hr and momentary gusts to 100km/hr. Damaging gale force winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby.

Expect gale force winds easing to strong with average speed of 55km/hr with momentary gusts to 80km/hr over rest of Viti Levu from later today.

For the rest of Fiji, expect strong winds with average speed of 55km/hr with momentary gusts to 80km/hr which will gradually ease as TC Josie moves away.

Expect , heavy at times and few squally easing to occasional rain from later tonight. Consequently, high seas, damaging heavy swells, flooding including sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas are anticipated.

Currently, the following alerts and warnings remain in force:

1. A “ ” remains in force for Northern and Southern parts of Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Southern Lau Group;

2. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for the rest of Fiji;

3. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for all Fiji Waters;

4. A “Heavy Rain Warning” remains in force for the whole of Fiji Group;

5. A “ Alert’ remains in force for low lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to major rivers for the rest of the Fiji Group;

6. A “” remains in force for low lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to the downstream of:

i. Emuri to Semo Village (Tuva River); ii. Vatutu to Nadi Town (Nawaka River); iii. Mulomulo, Yavuna, Votualevu to Nadi Town (Nadi River) iv. Toge to Ba Town (Ba River); v. Vatukacevaceva to Rakiraki Town; vi. Nasivi to Tavua Town (Tavua River); vii. Nabukelevu, Sabata to Navua Town (Navua River); viii. Keiyasi along the Sigatoka River.

For all Fiji Waters, mariners can expect gale force winds and high seas out to about 100 nautical miles in northeast quadrant, 100 nautical miles in southeast quadrant, 60 nautical miles in southwest quadrant and 60 nautical miles in northwest quadrant.

All communities living in flood prone and low lying areas are requested to take all necessary precaution and remain vigilant; similarly for those living in landslide-prone areas as adverse conditions affects the Group.

The current situation is closely monitored and any alert and warning will be issued as and when necessary. Public are advised to remain updated with the latest weather information and take alerts and warnings seriously.

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.

Alerts and warnings can be found at: Gale warning at: http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/20021.txt /warning can be accessed at: http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/20016.txt Heavy rain alert/warning at: http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/20014.txt Strong wind warning for mariners at: http://www.met.gov.fj/aifs_prods/10060.txt

Figure 1: Weather Map at 12pm today on 01 April 2018.

Figure 2: Satellite image at 01.30pm today on 01 April 2018.

Figure 3: Radar image at 12pm today on 01 April 2018.

Figure 4: Tropical Cyclone Josie Threat Map at 12pm today on 01 April 2018.

Figure 5: Tropical Cyclone Josie Forecast Track Map at 12pm today on 01 April 2018

STATION 24 RAINFALL Lautoka 188mm Keiyasi 166mm Nadi 153mm Nacocolevu 130mm Monasavu 124mm Viwa 104mm Sigatoka 104mm RKS 97mm Vanuabalavu 89mm Nausori 87mm Tavua 70mm Yaqara 64mm Labasa 51mm Penang Mill 55mm Lomaivuna 55mm Matei 54mm Matuku 53mm Rakiraki 52mm Table 1: Significant rainfall at selected sites from 9am yesterday to 9am this morning, 01 April 2018.

Threshold Level Rewa Catchment WL at Remarks Alert (m) Warning (m) midday Nabukaluka 4.0 5.0 3.22 Increasing Navolau 6.0 8.0 Waimanu 4.0 5.0 4.17 Increasing Navua Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) Navua Town Bridge 2.0 2.5 Sabata 4.0 6.0 Nabukelevu 3.0 4.0 7.39 Decreasing Rakiraki Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) Warning based from Rakiraki Town 1.5 2.5 Vatukacevaceva station Vatukacevaceva 1.0 1.5 1.39 Decreasing Sigatoka Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) Keiyasi 4.0 5.0 10.14 Increasing Sigatoka Bridge 3.5 4.5 2.33 Increasing Semo Catchment Alert (m) Waning (m) Tuva 3.5 4.5 10.11 Decreasing Ciri @ below 6.3 Increasing 1.5 2.5 Confluence Nadi Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) Nadi Bridge 2.5 3.5 Votualevu 3.0 5.0 10.8 Decreasing Yavuna 3.5 4.5 2.46 Decreasing Mulomulo 3.0 4.0 6.0 Decreasing Vatutu @ WAF 1.8 2.5 4.21 Decreasing Ba Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) FSC Ba 2.0 3.5 7.56 Increasing Toge 4.0 6.0 6.22 Increasing Tavua Catchment Nasivi W/L 2.5 3.5 2.65 Decreasing Labasa Catchment Alert (m) Warning (m) 1.24 Decrease due to Labasa Town 2.0 2.5 low tide Dreketilailai 2.0 3.5 1.32 Decreasing 1.1 Decrease due to Qawa Bridge 3.0 4.5 low tide

Table 2: Water level updates at 12 midday today on 01 April 2018.

ENDS