Keeping an eye on Kevin

AS residents in Port Vila and the northern islands of Vanuatu surveyed the damage left behind by Tropical Cyclone Judy this week, another weather system poses a great threat, and more damage.

The weather office in Nadi says newly formed Tropical Cyclone Kevin poses no direct threat to Fiji.

But as Judy continued to threaten southern islands in Vanuatu, Kevin was hot on its heels, looming as a Category 1 threat by yesterday.

And while the two systems pose no direct threat to Fiji, the forecast is for wind gusts of 80 kilometres per hour from last night, to the land areas of Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, Nadi, Lautoka and Ba.

The Fiji Meteorological Services warned that winds of this strength can break tree branches, damage crops, and weak, unshielded structures like temporary sheds and tents in exposed communities.

We should expect heavy rain over Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, northern parts of Ra, greater Nadi, Lautoka and Ba area, interior of Ba and Nadroga-Navosa, Sigatoka, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, and the Lau and Lomaiviti groups. Flood-prone areas in the western and northern parts of Viti Levu, especially Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba and others may once more be at risk of flooding.

There is a warning out for an elevated risk of flash flooding over the weekend and into early next week.

From Saturday, we should expect damaging heavy swells with wave heights of four to five metres in Fiji waters.

This may result in a risk of coastal inundation over the coastal areas of Bua and Macuata, Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, Western Division, Coral Coast, Beqa, Vatulele, Kadavu and Ono-i-Lau.

Such weather systems have not just come out of the woodworks though.

Remember we have a cyclone season which runs from November through to April annually.

It means we should expect such systems, and be prepared for them.

That means appreciating the power of mother-nature, and embracing plans to keep our loved ones safe in the event of such turns in the weather.

We feel for the people of Vanuatu right now, and hope that they get through this safely.

We also reflect on the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle a little over two weeks ago when it hit New Zealand.

NZ Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was quoted describing it as the most significant weather event the country had seen this century.

The country had, for only the third time in its history, declared a national state of emergency.

Back on the homefront, we are reminded about safety measures, and why we should be proactive.

We have been warned!