CYCLONE ALERT FOR NORTH OF FIJI

[Biara Touakin]

Special Weather Bulletin Number THREE for Fiji ON TROPICAL CYCLONE
MICK
ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 3:33pm on Sunday the 13th of December 2009

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR VANUA LEVU,
TAVEUNI, VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA, LOMAIVITI GROUP AND NEARBY
SMALLER ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA.

TROPICAL CYCLONE MICK [995HPA] CENTRE CAT 1 WAS LOCATED NEAR 14
DECIMAL 4 SOUTH 175 DECIMAL 7 EAST OR ABOUT 420 KM NORTH-NORTHWEST OF
NADI OR ABOUT 450 KM NORTHWEST OF LABASA AT 3PM TODAY. THE CYCLONE IS
INTENSIFYING. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE
AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 65 TO 75 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 90 KM/HR.
THE CYCLONE IS CURRENTLY MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 20 KM/HR.

ON THIS FORECAST TRACK THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO LIE ABOUT
230 KM TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST OF NADI OR ABOUT 290 KM WEST-NORTHWEST
OF LABASA AT 3AM TOMORROW AND ABOUT 100 KM TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST OF
NADI OR ABOUT 160 KM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF LABASA AT 3PM TOMORROW.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS WILL BEGIN A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CENTRE PASSES
OVERHEAD OR NEARBY.

FOR VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI, VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA, LOMAIVITI
GROUP AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS:
STRONG WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF
65 TO 75 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 90 KM/HR FROM TOMORROW.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI:
STRONG WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF
65 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 85 KM/HR FROM TOMORROW NIGHT AND INTO
TUESDAY.

PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS.

FOR ROTUMA: NORTHERLY WINDS 35 TO 55 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 80 KM/HR.
FURTHER RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. ROUGH TO VERY
ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELL.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:
EXPECT WINDS OF 35 TO 40 KNOTS WITHIN 150 MILES OF CENTRE.
HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELLS.

POOR VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 7.30
PM TODAY.