APCEDI Alert SP/FJ 05P Daman #10-2008: Cyclone Daman Winds Down to a Tropical Depression East of Fiji's Central Lau Group.

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre continue to issue guidance on former Cyclone Daman that has now wond down to Tropical Depression east of Fiji's Central Lau Group.

The remnants of Cyclone Daman are located near about 80 kilometres east-southeast of Lakeba or 100 kilometres east-northeast of Kabara in the Lau Group at 6PM this evening Fiji time. These remnants are moving southwest at 8 km/hr, and should continue to dissipate tomorrow. The current forecast map shows the remnants of Daman slowly drifting and dissipating around the Central and South Lau Group.

All cyclone alerts have been discontinued for all areas in Fiji and Tonga. This will be the last APCEDI alert for this system.

EFFECTS ON FIJI

CIKOBIA
Cikobia, true to its reputation as Fiji's "cyclone magnet", received a direct hit Friday night into Saturday morning, and sustained considerable damage with most crops destroyed, trees down, extensive coastal erosion, and many houses flattened or sustaining serious damaged according to police and news reports. Police have reported 17 houses destroyed or seriously damaged, and a further 13 dwellings deroofed. The only communication remaining is through police radio. As has happened in all recent past cyclones (Kina in 1993, Gavin in 1997 and Ami in 2003), the island's residents safely weathered the storm in the strong cyclone-proof community halls near Vunuka and Nalele villages. Some reports from the west side of the island note some people also sheltered in caves. There have been no reports of serious injuries. A survey team left for there this afternoon.

NORTHEAST VANUA LEVU
On Friday many low-lying areas around Labasa, northeast Vanua Levu, Buca Bay and the Natewa Peninsula were evacuated. Many of these areas reported very heavy rain and squalls, along with coastal flooding, but no major damage or injuries have been reported. Most evacuees have now returned home by Saturday afternoon. Some localised damage to few houses, crops and trees has been reported from Vanua Levu's far northeast Udu Peninsula and Natewa Peninsula and from Taveuni. Several roads in northeast Vanua Levu and Taveuni are still blocked by fallen trees and branches, but will likely be cleared shortly.


ALERTS AND WARNINGS


FIJI

A STRONG WIND WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LAU GROUP.


TONGA

STRONG WIND WARNING AND DAMAGING SWELLS REMAIN IN FORCE FOR ALL TONGA WATERS

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From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre
Special Weather Bulletin Number THIRTY-FOUR for Fiji ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMERLY TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 7:32pm on Sunday the 9th of December 2007

THE TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR ONEATA, MOCE, KOMO, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS IS NOW CANCELLED.

A STRONG WIND WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LAU GROUP.

A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, FORMERLY TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN CENTRE 997HPA, WAS LOCATED NEAR 18 DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 178 DECIMAL 1 WEST OR ABOUT 80 KILOMETRES TO THE EAST-SOUTHEAST OF LAKEBA OR 100 KILOMETRES EAST-NORTHEAST OF KABARA AT 6PM TODAY. THE DEPRESSION IS WEAKENING AND MOVING SOUTH-SOUTHWEST AT 08 KM/HR.

FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LAU, EXPECT WINDS OF AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 35 TO 60 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 85 KM/HR. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND A FEW SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. VERY ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY SWELLS SLOWLY ABATING.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI, FINE WEATHER EXCEPT FOR A FEW AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE MAIN ISLANDS. MODERATE WINDS FROM SOUTHEAST TO NORTH, FRESH AND GUSTY AT TIMES. MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS SLOWLY ABATING.

FOR ROTUMA, LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS. CLOUDY PERIODS WITH SOME SHOWERS. SLIGHT TO MODERATE SEAS.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners: FOR SOUTHERN LAU, SOUTHERN KORO SEA AND KADAVU PASSAGE:EXPECT WINDS OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS. VERY ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY SWELLS SLOWLY ABATING.

FOR THE REST OF FIJI WATERS:
WINDS FROM SOUTHEAST TO NORTH 15 KNOTS. MODERATE SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS, GRADUALLY ABATING.

THIS IS THE FINAL SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI ON FORMER TC DAMAN AND THE NEXT MARINE FORECAST BULLETIN WILL BE THE ROUTINE MARINE BULLETIN AT 1.30AM TOMORROW WHILE THE NEXT PUBLIC FORECAST WILL BE THE ROUTINE PUBLIC BULLETIN AT 5.30AM TOMORROW.

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

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