Special Weather Bulletin Number FORTY FIVE for Fiji ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 7:57pm on Sunday the 21st of February 2016
THE TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR VIWA ISLAND IS NOW CANCELLED.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, WESTERN VITI LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS AND IS NOW CANCELLED FOR THE REST OF FIJI.
A DAMAGING HEAVY SWELL WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS OF FIJI IS NOW CANCELLED.
A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, VITI LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS AND IS NOW CANCELLED FOR THE REST OF FIJI.
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON CENTRE [930HPA] CATEGORY 5 WAS LOCATED NEAR 17.5 SOUTH 174.0 EAST OR ABOUT 330KM WEST OF VIWA OR ABOUT 370KM WEST NADI AT 6PM TODAY. THE CYCLONE IS MOVING WEST AT ABOUT 21KM/HR FURTHER AWAY FROM FIJI. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE, THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS OF 205KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 285KM/HR.
ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE GALES OVER VIWA IN THE NEXT 2 TO 3 HOURS.
FOR YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, WESTERN VITI LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS:
STRONG NORTHWEST TO NORTEAST WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEED OF 45KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUST TO 80 KM/HR. PERIODS OF RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS OVER THESE PLACES AND THE REST OF VITI LEVU.
FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.
FOR THE REST OF FIJI:
MODERATE TO FRESH NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WINDS. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS.
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY FALLS POSSIBLE.
The following information is provided especially for the mariners:
NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 40 KNOTS.
ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS.
THE WILL BE THE LAST SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON.
-- Fiji Meteorological Service
Tropical Cyclone Winston's predicted path Photo: Fiji Met Service
