Special Weather Bulletin number 05 issued from RSMC Nadi at 2:28pm on Monday the 13th of November.

Tropical Cyclone Warning

Location of Centre and Strength

Location: 10.0s 170.0e, 820km west-northwest of rotuma or 1100km northwest of yasawa-i-rara.

Maximum Winds: 30 knots [45km/hr], gusting to 45 knots [80km/hr] and will continue to increase.

Central Pressure: 997 hpa

Movement: slow moving. expected to move towards fiji waters.

Time of Observation or Analysis: 12pm today [FST]

Forecast Position:

* 12hr or 12am Tuesday : 12.6s 171.4e or 505km west of Rotuma or 720 km northwest of Yasawa-i-rara [confident: high]

* 24hr or 12pm Tuesday : 15.5s 174.3e or 420kmnorthwest of Nadi or 370 km west-southwest of Yasawa-i-rara [confident: high]

* 36hr or 12am on Wednesday : 18.3s 175.9e or 180km west-southwest of Nadi or 260 km southwest of Yasawa-i-rara [confident: high]

* 48hr or 12pm on Wednesday : 20.7s 177.3e or 330km south of Nadi or 210 km south-southwest of Kadavu [confident: high]

Based on the intensity forecast, the system is expected to be elevated to category 1 in the next 6 to 12hrs during its passage.

Caution: Damaging winds and cyclone impacts could begin several hours prior to the cyclone center passes over or nearby.

Thus, secure your homes and properties and know your evacuation centers.

List of all Active Alerts or Warnings

A Storm Warning is now in force for Yasawa and mamanuca group, western and northern Viti levu.

A Storm Alert remains in force for southern Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

A Gale Warning is now in force for force for Rotuma, western half of Vanua Levu [Dreketi, bua to Savusavu], eastern Viti Levu and Lomaiviti group.

A Strong Wind warning remains in force for rest of Fiji.

A Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for the whole Fiji group.

Situation: an active trough of low pressure with associated cloud and rain affects the country.

Forecast:

For Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, western, northern and southern Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands:

Expect strong southeasterly winds up to 45 km/hr with gusts to 80 km/hr.

Winds may further increase to gale force with speeds of 65km/hr with gusts to 90km/hr from tomorrow morning and may further increase to storm force with speeds of 95km/hr with gusts to 130km/hr from tomorrow afternoon.

Periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms.

Rough to very rough seas. high to very high seas from tomorrow.

For Rotuma:

Expect strong southeasterly winds up to 45 km/hr with gusts to 80km/hr.

Winds may further increase to gale force with speeds of 65km/hr with gusts to 90km/hr from tomorrow morning.

Periods of rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms.

Rough to very rough seas, high seas from tomorrow.

For western half of Vanua Levu [Dreketi, Bua to Savusavu], eastern Viti Levu and Lomaiviti group:

expect strong southeasterly winds up to 45 km/hr with gusts to 80

km/hr. winds may further increase to gale force with speeds of

85km/hr with gusts to 120km/hr from tomorrow morning.

periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms.

rough to very rough seas, high seas from tomorrow.

For the rest of the Fiji group:

Expect strong southeasterly winds up to 45 km/hr with gusts to 80km/hr.

Winds may further increase to gale force with speeds of 55km/hr with gusts to 80km/hr from tuesday afternoon.

Occasional rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over most places.

Possible Impacts due to Heavy Rain:

– Localised flooding of susceptible communities, business and low-lying areas.

– Localised flooding of minor roads, iris crossing and bridges with some disruption to traffic flow.

– Poor visibility at land and sea with increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads.

Possible Impacts due to expected Tropical Cyclone from Tuesday [14/11]:

– Significant damage to houses of very light materials and old galvanized iron roofs blown off

– Risk of disruption in communication network and power supply due to damaged power lines

– Most plants and crops are damaged and downed

– Damages and flooding of roads, settlements, properties and infrastructure near streams and river banks.

– Few small trees are broken and blocking roads with major disruption to traffic flow

– Displacement of communities near streams and riverbanks due to flooding with danger to life

– Localised disruption of essential services

– High risk of sea travel for all types of sea crafts

– Damaging due to severe coastal inundation of debris along low lying coastal areas especially during high tides.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:

Over vatu-i-ra passage, Yasawa, mamanuca, Kadavu passage, Koro seas and northern Vanua Levu waters.

Expect southeast winds 20 to 30 knots.

Winds further increasing to gale force with speeds 35 to 45 knots, gusting to 55 knots from tomorrow morning and may further increase to storm force with speeds of 50 knots and gusting to 70 knots from tomorrow afternoon.

Rough to very rough seas, becoming high to very high seas from tomorrow.

For the rest of Fiji Waters:

Expect southeast winds 20 to 30 knots.

Winds further increasing to gale force with speeds of 35 to 45 knots, gusting to 55 knots from tomorrow afternoon.

Rough to very rough seas, becoming high seas from later tomorrow.

The next Special Weather Bulletin for Fiji will be issued at 9.00pm tonight or earlier.