APCEDI Alert SP/FJ 05P Daman #4-2008: Cyclone Daman Closing in on Yasawas, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre continue to issue guidance on Cyclone Daman that is currently bearing down on the main Fiji Group.

The centre of Cyclone Daman is located near about 270 kilometres northwest of the Yasawa Group or 350 kilometres north-northwest of Nadi at 3PM this morning Fiji time.

Daman is moving to the south at 20 km/hr, and should shortly recurve more to the southeast bearing down on Fiji starting with the Yasawa and Mamanuca Island chains in the west. Current forecast map shows Daman passing over the Northern and Central Yasawas late tonight, and then taking a course across Northeast Viti Levu tomorrow coming ashore between Tavua and Rakiraki and then exiting the island over the Nausori-Rewa Delta area. The Cyclone will then push on into the Western Lomaiviti and Lau Groups.

Cyclone Daman is currently at Category 1 strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. It will likely maintain this strength or slightly increase before it hits the Yasawas and Viti Levu. Interaction with the Viti Levu mountains will likely inhibit growth tomorrow as it crosses the island still likely a Category 1 storm on the Saffir Simpson Scale.

Residents throughout Fiji need to listen to Government warnings and rush cyclone preparation activities to a finish today in line with a Category 1-2 strength Cyclone on the Saffir Simpson Scale.

Resident and authorities in Tonga should closely watch this system as it works its way through the Lau Group. Although not threatened at this time, residents and authorities in Vanuatu, should continue to keep a close eye on this system in case of any unpredicted, rapid shifts in course.

ALERTS AND WARNINGS

FIJI

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING.

A STORM WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUPS, AND NORTHWESTERN VITI LEVU.

A GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, WESTERN VANUA LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALL ISLANDS.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA.

TONGA

A STRONG WIND WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR ALL TONGA WATERS.

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From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone CentreSpecial Weather Bulletin Number NINE FOR

FIJI AND ROTUMA ON TROPICAL
CYCLONE DAMAN ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 4:41pm on Thursday the 6th of December 2007

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING.

A STORM WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUPS, AND NORTHWESTERN VITI LEVU.

A GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, WESTERN VANUA LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALL ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI. TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN CENTRE [CAT 2] WAS LOCATED NEAR 15 DECIMAL 1 SOUTH 175 DECIMAL 7 EAST OR ABOUT 350 KILOMETRES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF NADI AND 270 NORTHWEST OF YASAWA AT 3PM TODAY. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE,

THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 110 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS UP TO 150 KM/HR. THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO CURVE SOUTHEASTWARDS TOWARDS THE YASAWAS AND MAMANUCAS, AND NORTHWESTERN VITI LEVU WITH WINDS INCREASING TO 50 TO 70 KM/HR FROM THIS EVENING AND TO 90 TO 110 KM/HR FROM FRIDAY MORNING.

OVER THE REST OF VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, WESTERN VANUA LEVU, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALL ISLANDS. EXPECT WINDS TO BE 40 TO 60 KM/HR OVERNIGHT AND INCREASING TO 65 TO 85 KM/HR FRIDAY AFTERNOON. OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE FIJI WINDS SHOULD INCREASE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO 30 TO 50 KM/HR, AND 50 TO 65 KM/HR LATER IN THE DAY. FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY, EXPECT WIDESPREAD RAIN BECOMING FREQUENT WITH HEAVY FALLS AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED, ALSO FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS, RIVERS AND STREAMS.

THE STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA. OVER ROTUMA EXPECT NORTHWEST WINDS 35 TO 50 KM/HR AND GUSTS TO 65 KM/HR EASING TO FRESH THIS EVENING . RAIN GRADUALLY EASING.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ESPECIALLY FOR THE MARINERS: DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WINDS WITHIN 50 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE. VERY HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITHIN 100 MILES OF CENTRE IN THE SOUTHEAST SEMI-CIRCLE AND 80 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE IN THE NORTHWEST SEMI-CIRCLE . VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS.

The next Special Weather Bulletin for Fiji and Rotuma will be issued around 8pm this evening.

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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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