APCEDI Alert SP/FJ 23P Cliff #1-2007: Cyclone Cliff forms in Northern Fiji, brings tropical storm conditions to Lau Group.

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre have begun issuing guidance on Cyclone Cliff that formed Wednesday in Northern Fiji and is now moving through Fiji's Lau Group.

Cyclone Cliff formed to the southeast of Vanua Levu and Taveuni Islands on Wednesday afternoon from a tropical depression that had been passing across Vanua Levu earlier in the day. The centre of Cyclone Cliff is now located roughly 30 km southeast of Lakemba Island. Cliff will is moving south-southeast at 18 km/hr as it passes through the Lau Group overnight and into today and to the west of the Nuka'alofa, Tonga tonight and into tomorrow.

Cyclone Cliff is currently at strong Tropical Storm strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. It is forecast to slightly increase to a possible Category 1 strength west of Tonga and then peak for about 24 hours before gradually weakening.

This is a small, weak cyclone moving very rapidly, so damage is likely to be minor and limited. Very localised areas of moderate damage could still occur close to the centre of the storm. However, all concerns in Fiji's Lau Group and Southern Tonga should monitor the situation closely and follow any Government advice.

ALERTS AND WARNINGS

FIJI
A TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR MAGO, CICIA, NAYAU,
LAKEBA, VANUA VATU, ONEATA, MOCE, KOMO, NAMUKA, KABARA, OGEA, FULAGA,VATOA AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN LAU GROUP.

TONGA
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE GROUP.

From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre

Special Weather Bulletin Number SIX for Fiji ON TROPICAL CYCLONE
CLIFF ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 4:07am on Thursday the 5th of April 2007

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR MAGO, CICIA, NAYAU,LAKEBA, VANUA VATU, ONEATA, MOCE, KOMO, NAMUKA, KABARA, OGEA, FULAGA,VATOA AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN LAUGROUP.

TROPICAL CYCLONE CLIFF CENTRE [990HPA] WAS LOCATED NEAR 18 DECIMAL 4 SOUTH 178 DECIMAL 6 WEST OR ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES SOUTHEAST OF LAKEBA OR ABOUT 70 KILOMETRES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF KABARA AT 4 A.M. TODAY.

CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 75 TO 85 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS OF 100 TO 120 KM/HR.

THE CYCLONE IS MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 18 KM/HR. ON THIS TRACK THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO LIE 50 KILOMETRES EAST OF KABARA OR ABOUT 85 KILOMETRES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF LAKEBA AT 9AM TODAY AND ABOUT 95 KILOMETRES SOUTHEAST OF KABARA OR ABOUT 130 KILOMETRES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF ONO-I-LAU AT 3PM TODAY.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ARE LIKELY TO BEGIN SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE CYCLONE CENTRE PASSES OVERHEAD OR NEARBY.

FOR MAGO, CICIA, NAYAU, LAKEBA, VANUA VATU, ONEATA, MOCE, KOMO, NAMUKA, KABARA, OGEA, FULAGA, VATOA AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.: EXPECT DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE WINDS OF 75 TO 85 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 100 TO 120 KM/HR.

FLOODING, INCLUDING RAPID SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS AFFECTED BY GALE FORCE WINDS EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY AROUND TIME OF HIGH TIDE. WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN WITH SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.

FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN LAU GROUP : EXPECT WINDS INCREASING TO 65 TO 75 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 100 KM/HR IN THE NEXT 12 HOURS TO 24 HOURS. HEAVY RAIN WITH SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

FOR THE REST OF THE FIJI GROUP FRESH AND GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS. FINE APART FROM AFTERNOON OR EVENING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE LARGER ISLANDS. MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:
EXPECT GALE FORCE WINDS WITHIN 60 MILES OF CYCLONE CENTRE WITH HIGH SEAS.SEAS ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH OVER THE SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN LAU, LOMAIVITI AND KADAVU WATERS. ELSEWHERE MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 7.00AM TODAY.

___________________________________________________________
APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system

Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator
http://www.afap.org/apcedi/

To donate to AFAP's Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation Programs in Asia and the Pacific, go to http://www.afap.org and click on the "Donate On-Line" icon in the top right-hand corner.

To sign up for AFAP's free APCEDI email service, please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ and register your email address.