APCEDI Alert SP/FJ 05P Daman #2-2008: Cyclone Daman passes over Rotuma, Threatens Fiji

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre continue to issue guidance on Cyclone Daman that formed near Rotuma, Fiji Wednesday afternoon.

The centre of Cyclone Daman is located near Rotuma. Rotuma is currently experiencing damaging gale force conditions. Although given the current strength of Cyclone Daman and fast speed, damage should be minor to possible locally moderate in isolated, exposed areas, with the greatest effect to crops and weak shelters made of bush materials. Lots of limbs will be down and some small trees.

Daman is moving to the west-southwest at 20 km/hr, and will now start to move away from Rotuma to the southwest. Most models show Daman recurving to the southeast tomorrow and taking a resultant track late tomorrow and Friday over the main Fiji Islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, although it is to early to predict the exact track. All of Fiji has therefore been placed under a Cyclone Alert.

Cyclone Daman is currently at Tropical Storm strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. It is forecast to slightly increase to a possible Category 1 strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale tomorrow.

Rotuma residents need to listen to Government warnings and continue to take action in line with a Category 1 strength Cyclone on the Saffir Simpson Scale. Residents of the remainder of Fiji need to listen to Government warnings and continue to take immediate action as required in line with a Category 1-2 strength Cyclone on the Saffir Simpson Scale. All preparatory activities should be rushed to completion as directed by early tomorrow afternoon.

Although not threatened at this time, residents and authorities in Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Tonga, should keep a close eye on this system in case of any unpredicted, rapid shifts in course.

ALERTS AND WARNINGS

FIJI

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN FORCE FOR FIJI.

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From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre

Special Weather Bulletin Number FOUR FOR FIJI AND ROTUMA ON TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 10:39pm on Wednesday the 5th of December 2007

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT IS IN FORCE FOR FIJI.

TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN CENTRE WAS LOCATED NEAR 12 DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 176 DECIMAL 7 EAST OR ABOUT 40 KILOMETRES TO THE WEST OF ROTUMA AT 10PM TONIGHT. THE CYCLONE IS MOVING WEST-SOUTHWEST AT AROUND 20 KM/HR FURTHER AWAY FROM ROTUMA.

OVER ROTUMA EXPECT DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 65 KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 90 KM/HR GRADUALLY EASING. FREQUENT HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

FOR FIJI EXPECT WINDS TO STRENGTHEN OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS LATER TOMORROW AND POSSIBLY REACH DAMAGING GALE FORCE ON FRIDAY. RAIN BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD AND FREQUENT WITH HEAVY FALLS AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ESPECIALLY FOR THE MARINERS:
DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITHIN 90 MILES OF CENTRE . VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS. WINDS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE IN THE NEXT 6 TO 12 HOURS WITH VERY HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS.

The next Special Weather Bulletin for Fiji and Rotuma will be issued around 02.00am tomorrow morning.

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APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

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

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