News

Tropical Cyclone Ula develops into Category 2

December 31, 2015 4:47 am

Tropical Cyclone Ula has intensified over the last 6 hours and has developed into a category 2 system with 50 knots winds close to its centre.

The Fiji Meteorology Office says at 1pm, TC Ula was located about 460km east-southeast of Apia Samoa, moving Southwest at 10 knots.

Director Ravindra Kumar says it’s expected to maintain a Southwest track for the next 24-48 hours.

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Kumar says that even though the global models indicate that TC Ula is approaching Fiji from the East, it’s expected to weaken as it moves closer.

However, the associated active rain bands are expected to bring heavy rain with possible strong and gusty northwest winds.

Kumar adds that localized heavy rain may lead to flash flooding.

On this projected path, TC Ula is expected to lie about 360km east Northeast of Vavau, Tonga at 1pm tomorrow and about 180km Northwest at 1pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 07F was located about 350 km north-northeast of Nadi at 1pm today.

On its projected path the system is expected to pass close to Fiji tomorrow.

It has low to moderate potential to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24-48 hours.