Tropical Cyclone Tomas-a threat for Fiji group

METD WEATHER

AKshay Deoras

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED--

A tropical Cyclone known as Tomas with a damaging wind gusts and a central pressure of 940mb is moving towards Fiji Island

Here are the warnings.

Hurricane Warning Update: 2pm

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

+ Enlarge this image

A satellite image of TC Tomas over the Northern Lau group at 6.30am today

Special Weather Bulletin Number 26 for Fiji on Tropical Cyclone Tomas Issued from RSMC NADI at 1:54pm on Tuesday the 16th of March 2010

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR MOALA, MATUKU,TOTOYA, KABARA, ONO-I-LAU, AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

A STORM WARNING REMAINS FORCE FOR NAYAU, LAKEBA, AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR KORO, GAU, BATIKI, NAIRAI, TAVEUNI, FAR SOUTH EAST OF VANUA LEVU, RABI, KIOA, QAMEA, LAUCALA, NAITAUBA, YACATA, VANUA BALAVU, CICIA, REST OF THE LOMAIVITI GROUPS AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF THE FIJI GROUP.

SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE TOMAS CENTRE 940HPA CATEGORY 4 WAS LOCATED NEAR 18 DECIMAL 6 SOUTH 179 DECIMAL 4 WEST OR ABOUT 240KM NORTH-NORTHWEST OF ONO-I-LAU OR 235 KM EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SUVA AT 1PM TODAY.

CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS OF 165 KM/HR EASING TO 100 KM/HR WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE CYCLONE IS MOVING SOUTH AT 20 KM/HR.

ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED ABOUT 35KM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF ONO-I-LAU OR 395 KM SOUTHEAST OF SUVA 1AM TOMORROW AND ABOUT 390 KM SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF ONO-I-LAU OR 785 KM SOUTHEAST OF SUVA AT 1PM TOMORROW.

FOR MOALA, MATUKU,TOTOYA, KABARA, ONO-I-LAU, AND NEARBY ISLANDS:

• WINDS TO VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 165 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 230 KM/HR.
• FREQUENT HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
• PHENOMINAL SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS.
• FLOODING INCLUDING FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS.

FOR THE NAYAU, LAKEBA, AND NEARBY ISLANDS:

• WINDS TO DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 90 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS 130 KM/HR.
• FREQUENT HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
• VERY HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS. FLOODING INCLUDING FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS.

FOR KORO, GAU, BATIKI, NAIRAI, TAVEUNI, FAR SOUTH EAST OF VANUA LEVU, RABI, KIOA, QAMEA, LAUCALA, NAITAUBA, YACATA, VANUA BALAVU, CICIA, REST OF THE LOMAIVITI GROUPS AND NEARBY ISLANDS:

• WINDS TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS UP TO 75 KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 110 KM/HR.
• PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
• VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS.
• FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI:

• FRESH TO STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.
• CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS.
• POSSIBLE FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AREAS.
• ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY SWELLS.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:

• HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITHIN 30 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE WITH PHENOMINAL SEAS.
• STORM FORCE WINDS WITHIN 50 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE WITH VERY HIGH SEAS.
• GALE FORCE WINDS WITH HIGH SEAS WITHIN 150 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE IN THE EASTERN SECTORS AND WITHIN 120 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE IN THE WESTERN SECTORS.
• ELSEWHERE STRONG WINDS VERY ROUGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI ON TC TOMAS WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 6PM TODAY OR EARLIER.