A STORM WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VATULELE AND KADAVU.
A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, LOMAIVITI GROUP, VITI LEVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS, MATUKU, MOALA AND TOTOYA.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE LAU GROUP
A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE FIJI GROUP.
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR LOW LYING AREAS, SMALL STREAMS AND AREAS ADJACENT TO MAJOR RIVERS IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DIVISION.
A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR LOW LYING AREAS DOWNSTREAM OF NASIVI STATION IN THE TAVUA RIVER AND BA FSC IN THE BA RIVER
A FLOOD ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR LOW LYING AREAS AND AREAS ADJACENT TO KOROVOU RIVER, DOWNSTREAM OF NAIRUKURUKU STATION OF WAINIMALA RIVER; DOWNSTREAM OF NAYAVU STATION IN THE WAINIBUKA RIVER ADJACENT TO KOROVOU RIVER; ADJACENT TO NASIVI STATION IN THE TAVUA RIVER; DOWNSTREAM TO NAVOLAU STATION IN THE REWA RIVER; ADJACENT TO KEYASI STATION AND DOWNSTREAM OF SIGATOKA RIVER. AND DOWNSTREAM OF RAKIRAKI TOWN IN THE RAKIRAKI RIVER.
Advisory information: Tropical cyclone Sarai was located by satellite image and radar approximately 180km west-southwest of Nadi at midnight last night.
The cyclone has intensified a tad with the beginnings of an eye evident on satellite imagery and radar in the early hours of this morning.
Currently, storm force winds averaging 50 knots (95 kph) are estimated near the centre with gusts reaching 65 knots (130 kph). This is consistent with a tropical cyclone of strong category 2 intensity.
The speed of movement of TC Sarai has dropped markedly in the last 12 hours.
It is moving slowly southeast at around 10 kph at this time and will tend almost due east in its movement during the day today at around the same speed.
On this basis, it is forecast that the centre will lie about 180 km west of Kadavu at midday, and about 140km south of Kadavu at midnight tonight. Intensity is expected to remain at strong category two much the same as it is now, perhaps a little stronger.
Gales are affecting all of Fiji at this time while winds of storm force are affecting southern and western Viti Levu from the southern Yasawas to Sigatoka and along the south coast to Suva, and Vatulele. Storm force winds will affect Kadavu after sunrise.
Peak gust at Nadi airport in the past 6 hours has been 58 knots (115 kph) at 9 pm.
Latest wind gust was 49 knots (90 kph). Nausori peak gust was 45 knots (85 kph) at 10 pm. Winds will slowly ease around the western division over the next 12 hours while slowly increasing about the central and eastern division through the morning as the cyclone moves slowly but steadily eastward during the day.
Flooding is going to be the major hazard for the remainder of the period in which TC Sarai is within the confines of the Fiji Islands.
Rain has been extensive throughout Fiji already especially about the western and central divisions.
Heavy rain and flooding is being experienced at this time over much of the country. Flood warnings are current for most waterways including some major rivers now.
Impacts on towns and villages, and on roads and other infrastructure is already very concerning, and with another 12 to 24 hours of heavy rain expected the situation is likely to worsen significantly.
STAY AWAY FROM FLOOD WATERS.
There are no words powerful enough to communicate the hazard posed by fast-moving floodwaters.
You will likely be swept away and drowned if you attempt to cross a river or stream in flood. Waters will continue to rise and it will be 24 hours or more for any significant decrease in flood levels are observed. Be patient.
Floodwaters are highly prone to disease. do not consume waters from rivers or streams.
Movement by sea is extraordinarily hazardous right now. Only large vessels can operate in the current seas and swells and storm-force winds.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL BY SEA IN SMALL CRAFT.
You will be putting yourself in great peril, as well as those who may have to rescue you if you are foolish enough to take to the sea.
In the life cycle of TC Sarai this system is right now in its late adolescence and becoming a mature adult.
We are not yet 50% through its life cycle. It will leave Fiji’s area of interest tomorrow moving towards Tongatapu still a strong system causing a hazard to us until the last.
The most recent forecasts indicate that TC Sarai will be located about 120 km or so south of Tongatapu at midnight New Year’s Eve, with winds of gale force still likely affecting the eastern waters of the Lau group from Lakeba to Ono.
Clearly this is not the holiday season we hoped for, but we must be patient and let mother nature do her thing.
The next update will be at 8 am this morning or thereabouts. The unreliable availability of electricity may affect the timeliness of updates as batteries fail on our devices.