FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE GOVERNMENT OF REPUBLIC OF FIJI MEDIA RELEASE No. 13 1pm, Wednesday, 16 December, 2020 SEVERE TC YASA INTENSIFIES FURTHER INTO A CATEGORY 5 SYSTEM AND SLOW MOVING TOWARDS FIJI Warnings A Tropical Cyclone Warning is now in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands and expected to be in force for the rest of the group later today. A Tropical Cyclone Alert remains in force for the rest Fiji A Strong Wind Warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji. A Storm Surge and Damaging Heavy Swell Warning is now in force for coastal waters of Rotuma, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands. A Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji. A Flash Flood Alert is now in force for all low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams along Komave to Navua Town, Navua Town to Rewa, Rewa to Korovou and Korovou to Rakiraki in Vanua Levu and is also in force for all low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams of Vanua Levu along Bua to Dreketi, Dreketi to Labasa and along Labasa to Udu Point. Situation Severe tropical cyclone Yasa has rapidly intensified and upgraded further into a category 5 system at 3am today. Severe TC Yasa was located near 14.6 south latitude and 174.1 east longitude or about 440km west-northwest of Yasawa-i-Rara, about 500km northwest of Nadi and about 395km southwest of Rotuma at midday today. The system is currently moving eastwards at about 6 knots or 11 kilometers per hour. On this forecasted track, Severe TC Yasa is expected to be located about 280km northwest of Yasawa-i-Rara, about 360km north-northwest of Nadi and about 320km south-southwest of Rotuma at 3am tomorrow. At 9am on Friday, the cyclone is expected to be located about 65km east-northeast of Yasawa-i- Rara, about 160km north-northeast of Nadi and about 460km south-southeast of Rotuma. Destructive winds are likely to begin a several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby. Meanwhile, tropical cyclone Zazu (category 2), has moved away from the Tonga towards the ocean between Tonga and Niue. Forecast For Rotuma Strong winds with average speeds up to 45 km per hour with momentary gusts up to 65 km per hour is expected over Rotuma. Winds can increase to damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 75km per hour from later today. There is risk of flooding of coastal areas from storm surges and damaging heavy swells during high tide. Strong winds and heavy rain is expected to start easing over Rotuma from Saturday. For Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands Strong winds with average speeds up to 45 km per hour with momentary gusts up to 65 km per hour is expected today. As severe TC Yasa tracks closer, winds expected to increase to damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 75km per hour from 3am tomorrow morning. This is expected to further increase to destructive storm force and very destructive hurricane force winds up to 185km per hour with momentary gusts up to 260km per hour by 3pm tomorrow. Destructive storm force and very destructive hurricane force winds can be extremely dangerous with widespread destruction. It can cause widespread damage to properties and infrastructures, severe disruption to electrical power distribution and communication services. It can uproot big trees and cause total damage to crops and vegetation. Occasional rain and few thunderstorms, rain expected to become frequent and heavy with squally thunderstorms from later today. This can cause flash flooding of low lying areas and flood prone areas. High waves of more than 5 to 7 meters can be expected over these areas from early tomorrow. Significant wave height of 14 meters or more and damaging heavy swells is expected when the eye of the cyclone moves closer. There is risk of sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas especially during high tide from storm surges and damaging heavy swells on Thursday and Friday. For the rest of Fiji Group Expect moderate to fresh easterly winds today, winds expected to become strong with average speeds of 45km per hour on Thursday morning and expected to further increase to damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 75 km per hour and even further increase to destructive storm force and hurricane force winds up to 185 km per hour and momentary gusts up to 260 km per hour on Thursday night. Occasional showers and few thunderstorms from today until tomorrow. Showers expected to increase to rain and become frequent and heavy with squally thunderstorms from Thursday. There’s risk of flash floods of low lying and flood prone areas. Expect very rough to high seas with damaging heavy swells and storm surges. Flooding including sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas expected on Friday. By Friday, the whole of Fiji is expected to experience damaging winds or stronger, widespread heavy rain that can cause landslides, severe flooding and bursting of river banks, storm surge, damaging heavy swells and high waves that can cause sea flooding in coastal areas. 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 9am on 16 December, 2020. Figure 2: Flood alert and water level status at 11am on 16 December, 2020. Figure 3: Forecasted track map for Tropical Cyclone Yasa [Category 5] at 12pm on 16 December, 2020. Figure 4: Forecasted threat map for Tropical Cyclone Yasa [Category 5] at 12pm on 16 December, 2020. END. .