Tropical Cyclone Mona is currently completing the expected clockwise turn and is anticipated to start tracking East-Southeast towards Fiji in the next 3-6 hours.
Nadi Weather Office Senior Forecaster Amit Singh says Tropical Cyclone Mona is moving North-Northwest at about 10km/hr and was located about 400km North-Northwest of Yasawa-i-rara or about 510km Northwest of Labasa at 7am today.
Singh says based on the projections and the 6 hours delay the centre of Cyclone Mona could make landfall in Vanua Levu tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow night.
He adds that based on the uncertainty of the track, some of the guidance is showing that Cyclone Mona could track further south and the center could pass close to Viti Levu or even over Viti Levu.
These two scenarios still remain despite the delay in the movement of Tropical Cyclone Mona.
TC Mona Forecast Track Map as at 9:01am 5 Jan 2019 [Photo: met.gov.fj]
On the forecast track the centre is expected to be located about 390km North-Northeast of Yasawa-i-rara or about 480km Northwest of Labasa at 7 tonight.
Category two Tropical Cyclone Mona has winds of about 95km/hr with momentary gusts of about 130km/hr close to the centre.
Damaging gale force winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
A gale warning remains in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca groups and Western half of Vanua Levu.
A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
A strong wind warning remains in force for all land areas and waters of Fiji.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji.
A Flood warning remains in force for all low lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to major rivers of Fiji.
