TD SARAI COULD TURN INTO CATEGORY
ONE CYCLONE BY TODAY, WEATHER OFFICE WARNS
Tropical Depression (TD03F) is expected to intensify and upgrade into a tropical cyclone, which will be named Sarai, around mid-day today.
There is also a heavy rain warning now in force for Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby small islands, Northern Lau Group and the Yasawa Group.
“Even though TD03F is currently slow moving, it is expected to gradually move southwards from later today. In moving southwards, it will move closer to the Fiji group tomorrow (27/12),” a statement from the Fiji Met Office said.
“While majority of the weather models project the system to move ‘just’ West of Yasawa and Mamanuca group, some models are bringing it over Viti Levu later on Friday.”
The Weather office said they were closely monitoring its development and movement.
As the system moves closer, the public can expect the winds to gradually increase and heavy rain.
As of 4pm, yesterday, Tropical Depression, TD03F, was located near 8.3 south latitude, 176.0 east longitude or about 510 kilometres north-northwest of Rotuma or about 1020 kilometers northnorthwest of Labasa.
TD03F was moving south at 10km per hour towards the Fiji Group. The Weather office advises members of the public to take precaution and prepare now.
South Sea Cruises
Meanwhile, South Sea Cruises has advised that they are working with advice from Port Denarau Marina, who at this stage, are planning to evacuate and close the Port late and any directives issued by the Marine Safety Authority of Fiji. All Day Cruises within the Mamanucas and Yasawas including both South Sea Island and Malamala Beach Club will be suspended from today until the adverse weather passes.
Advisories will be issued to advise once day cruises resume.
■ Resort Connection services to the Mamanuca’s and Yasawa’s are affected as follows;
■ Mamanuca Resort Connection services including Route 4 scheduled to depart at 3.15pm and Route 5 scheduled to depart at 3 pm will both be suspended from today and all Mamanuca services will remain suspended thereafter until further notice. Customers and/or passengers needing to return to Port Denarau should do so on either Christmas Day or on the Route 1, 2 or 3 services operated on Thursday. ■ Yasawa Resort Connection services will operate at this point in time as scheduled today however please be advised services may be disrupted anytime now, with little or notice should forecasts’ or conditions change.
■ They plan on providing additional southbound capacity today to enable any customers or passengers who want or need to return to Port Denarau to be able to. Furthermore, due to the Tropical Depression and adverse weather associated with this, Malamala Beach Club will be closed from the December 26-29 based on the current weather forecast.
“We anticipate re-opening on the 30th of December and will update further once the weather has cleared,” the statement said.