WEATHER ALERT! TROPICAL DISTURBANCE
COULD DEVELOP INTO A CATEGORY 1 TROPICAL CYCLONE
Tropical Disturbance (TD07F) is gradually moving closer to the Fiji group of islands and may intensify into a significant Tropical Depression within the next 24 hours. TDO7F was located near 14.5 degrees south latitude and 170.7 degrees east longitude or about 800km west-northwest of Nadi at 3pm yesterday.
It is moving east-southeast at 17km an hour towards the group. Further development of TD07F will be closely monitored and the public will be appropriately advised through alerts and warnings as the system draws closer to the country.
All communities are advised to remain prepared, be updated with the latest weather information and take alerts and warnings seriously as and when they are issued. A media release statement from the Fiji Meteorological Services office reported that TD07F was expected to continue moving towards Fiji and gradually intensify into a Tropical Depression within the next 24 hours.
It may further intensify into a significant Tropical Depression within the next 24 to 48 hours and may become a Category 1 Cyclone in the next 72 hours. Therefore, a chance of TD07F developing into a tropical cyclone into 48 to 72 hours remains high. By then, it is expected to be located very close to the Fiji group.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression (TD08F) was located near 21.3 degrees south latitude and 178.3 degrees west longitude or about 80km south-southeast of Ono-i-Lau at 3pm yesterday. It is moving eastwards at seven kilometres an hour and expected to continue moving further away from the country.
However, the associated active trough of low pressure, cloud and rain continue to affect most parts of the country and the following Warnings and Alerts remain in force:
1. A “Heavy Rain Warning” remains in force for Kadavu, Lau and Lomaiviti Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, the Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, and the Northern and Western parts of Viti Levu.
2. A “Heavy Rain Alert” remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
3. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for the land areas and waters of Rotuma.
4. A “Strong Wind Warning” remains in force for Vanua Levu and the Lau waters, Koro Sea, Vatu-IRa and Kadavu passage.
5. A “Flood Alert” remains in force for low-lying areas and small streams for Vanualevu, Northern and Western Viti Levu.
Expect periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms over Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Lau Group with occasional rain over Kadavu, Lomaiviti Group, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group and the Northern and Western parts of Viti Levu.
Over Rotuma, expect periods of rain and squally thunderstorms, strong north to northwest winds 40km/hr to 55km/hr and gusting to 70km/hr.
For the rest of Fiji, expect afternoon or evening showers and thunderstorms with heavy falls likely. Showers increasing to rain and becoming heavy as TD07F draws closer to the group.
For the Vanua Levu and the Lau waters, Koro Sea, Vatu-I-Ra and Kadavu passage, northwesterly winds 20 to 25 knots, gusting to 35knots with rough to very rough seas and moderate Northwesterly swells.
For the rest of the Fiji Waters, expect northwesterly winds 15 to 20 knots and gusty at times and moderate to rough seas with moderate northerly swells.