The Nadi Weather Office is closely monitoring Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita.
Director Metrological Services Ravind Kumar says that majority of the warnings are still in place.
On its current track – TC Gita is expected to pass south of Oni-i-Lau as a Category 4 system tomorrow night.
“A hurricane warning remains in for Ono-Lau and Vatoa, a Storm warning remains in force for the rest of Southern Lau Group, a Gale warning remains in force for Matuku, Totoya, Moala, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands. A tropical Cyclone alert remains in force for central Lau group, Lomaiviti group and Southern half of Viti Levu.”
Kumar stresses that destructive winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone passes over head or nearby.
“We are very closely monitoring severe TC Gita and it’s expected to further intensify possibly into a category 5 cyclone within the next 24 to 48 hours and we have seen in the last hour it has picked up intensity and it has also moved faster compared to the last 12 hours.”
Kumar is also calling on the public to heed the weather warnings.
Like TC Winston, storm surges are expected to accompany damaging gale force winds brought by TC Gita.
