MEDIA RELEASE No.4 SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE ULA AND TROPICAL DEPRESSION 07F 4pm Friday 01 st January 2016 A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS NOW INFORCE FOR THE LAU GROUP. At 1pm today, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula was located near 16.8 degrees South 170.3 degrees West or about 330km southeast of Apia and moving towards the west-southwest at 13km/hr. TC Ula is a Category 3 midget system with 65 knots winds estimated near the centre. It is expected to maintain a west-southwest track moving at 18 km/hr. On this projected path, it is expected to lie about 105km east-north east of Vavau (Tonga) or 411km east of Lakeba Island at 1pm tomorrow and about 496km west of Vavau or 115km eastsoutheast of Lakeba at 1pm on Sunday. Tropical Depression (TD07F) lies over Fiji and was located near 18.4 degrees South latitude and 177.8 degrees East longitude. It is moving south-southwest at about 15km/hr. It has a central pressure of 997hPa. On this projected path it is expected to move south of Fiji later tonight. The system has low to moderate potential to develop into a tropical cyclone in next 24 to 48 hours. For Region: Strong wind warning remains in force for Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati, Cook Islands and Niue. A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR EASTERN VITI LEVU, VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS, LAU AND LOMAIVITI GROUP. Forecast to midnight tonight for Eastern Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Yasawa and mamanuca Group: Strong clockwise winds with average speed of 45km/hr gusting to 65km/hr. Rough to very rough seas. Elsewhere, moderate to fresh clockwise winds, gusty at times. A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR EASTERN AND NORTHERN VITI LEVU,YASAWA VITI AND MAMANUCA GROUP. A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE LOW LYING AREAS AND AREAS ADJACENT TO WAILOTUA AND NAYAVU STATION AND AREAS DOWNSTREAM FROM WAINIBUKA RIVER. A FLOOD ALERT IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE LOW LYING AREAS ADJACENT TO RAKIRAKI TOWN STATION AND AREAS DOWNSTREAM OF RAKIRAKI TOWN STATION. A FLOOD ALERT IS NOW IN FORCE FOR LOW LYING AREAS AND AREAS ADJACENT TO NAVOLAU STATION AND AREAS DOWNSTREAM OF NAVOLAU STATION.
On the forecast track, Tropical Cyclone Ula is expected to approach Fiji from the east and enter into the Southern Lau Waters on Sunday morning as a category 2 cyclone. The associated active rain bands are expected to bring heavy rain over the country with possibly strong and gusty northwest winds. Therefore, periods of rain, heavy at times over eastern and northern Viti Levu, Lomaiviti and Kadavu are expected. Isolated squally thunderstorms are likely. Moderate to fresh winds, gusty at times. A STRONG WIND WARNINGS REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ALL FIJI WATERS. Poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Moderate to rough seas. Fig 1: Tropical Cyclone Ula Forecast Track Map issued from RSMC Nadi at 1pm on Friday 1 st January, 2016.
Fig 2: Mean Sea-Level Pressure chart issued from RSMC Nadi at 7am on Friday 01 st January 2016. TC Ula TD07F Fig 3: Colourised Infrared satellite imagery at 2pm on Friday 1 st January 2016. -The white star indicates the supposed low level circulation centre. -The darker green is indicative of areas of heavy rainfall in a rain band.
Fig 4: Latest radar image at 2.30pm indicating the rain bands of Tropical Depression 07F over the Eastern Division. Rewa Catchment River Level (m) at 2pm Warning Level (m) STATUS Nabukaluka 3.31 5.0 Increasing Navolau 5.47 8.0 Increasing Waimanu 1.46 5.0 Increasing Nayavu 6.57 8.0 Decreasing Nausori Brdg 2.23 6.0 Increasing Wailotua 7.30 3.5 Decreasing Navua Catchment River Level (m) at 2pm Warning Level (m) Status Navua Town Bridge 1.160 2.5 Normal Sabata 0.9 6.0 Decreasing Waibogi 1.9 4.5 Decreasing Nabukelevu 3.0 4.0 Decreasing Rakiraki Catchment River Level (m) at 2pm Warning Level (m) Status Vaileka Town 1.124 2.0 Decreasing Nadi River Catchment Nadi Bridge 1.328 4.5 Normal Votualevu 0.798 4.0 Normal Namulomulo 0.242 4.0 Normal Yavuna 0.152 Normal Sigatoka River Catchment Tuva 0.650 4.5 Normal
Keiyasi 0.910 5.0 Normal Sigatoka Bridge 1.384 4.5 Normal Labasa River Catchment Dewala 1.173 4.0 Decreasing Wairikicake 0.501 4.0 Decreasing Labasa Town Centre 1.593 2.5 Low tide Fig 4. Various flood monitoring sites It is advisable that people are to remain prepared at all times and keep updated with the latest weather bulletins. Keep listening to the radio for the updated information. Secure your home and family so that they are safe. For more details and the latest on weather, please contact the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre on 6736006, 9905376 or visit the Fiji Meteorological Service s website, www.met.gov.fj ENDS. R KUMAR Director of Meteorology for Permanent Secretary Infrastructure & Transport