An eye on the weather

WE have been warned by the Fiji Meteorological Service to expect a trough of low pressure to approach Fiji from the West and affect parts of the group from Tuesday.

It issued a weather update yesterday saying a West to Southwest wind flow prevailed over the Fiji Group.

Mariners can expect Southwest to Westerly wind at 15 to 20 knots and there would be moderate to rough seas and poor visibility in areas of heavy showers and thunderstorms.

We also learn that Tropical Cyclone Hale has formed near New Caledonia, however, it poses no threat to Fiji.

On reflection, we are reminded that in October last year we were warned to expect at least three severe cyclones above category 3 in the November 2022 – April 2023 cyclone season.

It was a warning sent out to the Southwest Pacific, which includes Fiji, by the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd (MetService).

The release of the 2022 tropical cyclone outlook, it said, was a collaborative work with input from New Zealand’s official Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology and national meteorological services from other Pacific nations.

The outlook stated there would be increased cyclone risk West of Fiji.

The Southwest Pacific region was expected to get six to 10 named tropical cyclones in this cyclone season. With that in mind, the onus is on us to be prepared. This is when we take heed of alerts, warnings and advisories issued by both the Fiji Meteorological Service and the National Disaster Management Office.

Think about it, no one would have thought about the impact a Category 5 system such as Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston could have on our nation. Winston went past us in a blaze of fury and power in 2016.

By the time it left Fiji, there was death and destruction along the path it cut through our islands.

Picking up strength after Tonga, Winston developed into a massive Category 5 system that was frightening. At first the projected path curved through the Lau Group and pointed to the Southwest of Viti Levu. It was expected to pass pretty close to the Capital City.

Winston, however, picked up power, and fury, and moved straight to the West, cutting through Lau, Lomaiviti, and brushing over Ra before curving down south again.

Houses were flattened, trees uprooted, and Winston blew away roofs, there was flooding, and there were frightened people, and death.

Packed with average winds of up to 220km an hour and momentary gusts of up to 315km an hour close to its centre, Winston, a fully-fledged Cat 5 megastorm swept through Koro Island, destroying 315 homes.

The village of Sinuvaca looked like a battle ground, flattened by the severe storm.

Every Fijian who lived through Winston will forever be reminded about the power of mother nature.

As we read this latest weather update, let’s remind ourselves to be prepared.

We are well into the cyclone season, so let’s be prepared!

Let’s organise ourselves on the homefront, and keep a keen ear, and eyes on weather reports!

We have been warned!