The 2018/19 tropical cyclone season has started earlier than usual with Tropical Cyclone Liua being the first named cyclone, which formed near Solomon Islands.

However, the Nadi Weather Office said in a statement yesterday that TC Liua did not pose any direct threat to the country.

TC Liua is weakening and moving West-northwest at about 13 kilometres per hour. It is expected to take a westerly track and move out of Fiji’s Area of Responsibility by midday today.

The Tropical Depression (TD01F) lying in the favourable condition, developed into a Tropical Depression and was upgraded to a category 1 cyclone at 6am on Thursday September 27, 2018.

The public are advised to start preparing for the upcoming Tropical Cyclone season and keep updated on the latest weather update because weather can change rapidly during this time of the year.

Meanwhile, the following warnings for Fiji is in force.

A “Heavy Rain Warning” remains in force for the interior and eastern parts Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands Lau and Lomaiviti Groups.

1. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for all land areas of Southwest Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti Group.

2. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for all Fiji Waters including Rotuma.

Tropical cyclones rarely occur in the month of September in the Southwest Pacific. With the high quality database that Fiji Meteorological Service has since 1969/70 season to present, there have been no occurrence of a tropical cyclone in the month of September.

Three key weather conditions that are necessary for tropical cyclone to develop are warm ocean waters as tropical cyclones can only form over ocean waters that are at least 27˚C warm, need to form at least 5 degrees of latitude away from the equator so that have some rotational effect and an environment with low wind shear.  The Fiji Meteorological Service will keep a close on weather systems in the coming days. For more information visit www.met.gov.fj or call 6724888.

Source: Nadi Weather Office

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