News

Tropical cyclone alert now in force for Ono-I-Lau

February 11, 2018 1:07 am

A Tropical Cyclone alert is now in force for Ono-I-Lau.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita Category 3 was located about 1,080 km East of Ono-I-Lau and about 1,090 km East of Lakeba at 6am today.

The Fiji Meteorology Office says centre of the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 150km/hr with momentary gusts to 205km/hr.

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The cyclone is moving South at about 15 km/hr and is expected to curve West towards Southern Lau.

On this track, the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 770 km
East of Ono-I-Lau at 6am tomorrow and about 180 km East-southeast of
Ono-I-Lau at 6am on Tuesday.

Destructive winds are likely to begin a few hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby the whole group.

For Ono-I-Lau, moderate southeast winds, expected to increase to damaging gale force winds with an average speed up to 65 km/hr and momentary gusts to 90 km/hr on Tuesday.

Cloudy periods with heavy rain and squally thunderstorms is expected from Tuesday.

The heavy rain warning and flood alert that was previously issued have been cancelled.

The public are urged to monitor the situations as flooding for low-lying coastal areas is expected.