A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for the whole of the Fiji group as tropical cyclone tomas moves closer to the Fiji group.
At 7 o'clock this morning, Tropical cyclone Tomas was located about 600 kilometers North North east of udu Point.
Tropical cyclone Tomas is now moving West at 13 kilometers per hour and is intensifying. Close to its center the cyclone is estimated tom have winds of 95 kilometers per hour to 140 km/hr in the next 18 to 24 hours.
The Nadi Weather Office says on its current path, Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to bring damaging gale force winds over most parts of the Fiji group in the next 30 to 48 hours.
Winds are expected to increase to 35 to 40 km/hr with gusts of 65 km/hr, possibly increasing to damaging gale force winds in the next 30 to 48 hours.
The weather office says occasional rain, becoming frequent with squally thunderstorms are expected with damaging swells developing. Flooding, including sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is also possible as the cyclone moves closer to Fiji.
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A Tropical Cyclone Alert remains in force for the whole of the Fiji group.
Tropical cyclone Tomas was located 600 kilometres North - North East of Udu point at 3 o'clock this morning.
The Nadi Weather Office Director Rajendra Prasad said the tropical cyclone is moving nine kilometers per hour and is expected to enter Fiji waters by late tomorrow.
Prasad said the system has slowed down and is intensifying and is expected to be upgraded to Category Three Hurricane later today and people need to be prepared.
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According to the weather office, on its current path most parts of the country will experience damaging gale force winds in the next 36 to 48 hours.
The centre of the cyclone is expected to be located about 510 kilometres North North East of Labasa at midday today and located about 210 kilometres North of Udu Point and about 265 kilometres North North East of Labasa at midday tomorrow.
The Nadi weather Office said the system should continue to intensify and curve southwards as it reaches Fiji longitudes.
Present indications are that it could reach CATEGORY 3 (HURRICANE) status as it reaches Fiji.
Usually a CATEGORY 3 and above Tropical Cyclone can dictate its own path.
There is another system which the Nadi Weather Office is monitoring.
The second Tropical Depression located just west of Santo Island in Vanuatu is also expected to deepen and form into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 12-18 hours.
The system is expected to drift westwards and is therefore of no direct threat to Fiji at this stage.
DISMAC teams around the country are now on full alert and evacuation centers are being prepared in the Northern division as Tropical Cyclone Tomas slowly tracks towards the Fiji group.
Acting Director DISMAC Pajiliai Dobui said the operations Centers are being activated to monitor the cyclone movement and advise the public accordingly.
Dobui stressed that due to the unpredictable path of Tropical Cyclone Tomas, the entire country is vulnerable and people have ample time to prepare themselves.
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Stay with your Fijivillage news team for updates on Tropical Cyclone Tomas in the next hour.
