APCEDI Alert SP/FJ 05P Daman #6-2008: Cyclone Daman Continues to Strengthen and Continues to Shift Course East, Closes in on 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 135 kilometres north of the Yasawa Group or 235 kilometres west-northwest of Labasa at 10AM this morning Fiji time.

Daman is moving to the east at 20 km/hr, but is expected to shift to the southeast later today. This continues to shift Daman's track eastward. The current forecast map shows Daman closing in on Northern Vanua Levu and making a direct hit on Labasa early tonight. This includes the island of Mali. Daman will continue across Eastern Vanua Levu across Natewa Bay, then into the Buca Bay, Fawn Harbour Area. From there it will cross the Somosomo Straight, move across Taveuni and then into the Northern Lau Group.

Cyclone Daman has increased in intensity to a Category 3 strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. This equates to Category 4 on the Australia Scale. It will likely maintain this strength or increase slightly before hitting Vanua Levu. Interaction with the Vanua Levu mountains will likely inhibit growth as it crosses the island still likely a Category 3 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 2-3 strength Cyclone on the Saffir Simpson Scale.

At Category 3 strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale, Daman is a very severe cyclone and increasingly very dangerous. Residents of Mali, Labasa, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and surrounding areas who are currently in the direct path need to be especially careful. Communities in and around where the eye of Daman could expect storm surge generally 3-5 metres above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large tress blown down. Unsecured structures, structures made of bush material, caravans/mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering of floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 2 metres above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required.

Resident and authorities in Tonga should closely watch this system as it works its way through the Lau Group.

ALERTS AND WARNINGS

FIJI

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE NORTHERN YASAWA GROUP, NORTHEASTERN VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, TAVEUNI, VANUA LEVU, NORTHERN LAU GROUP, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

A STORM WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE SOUTHERN YASAWA GROUP, CENTRAL PARTS OF VITI LEVU, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

A GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI

TONGA

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

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From the RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre
Special Weather Bulletin Number FIFTEEN for Fiji ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN
ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 10:55am on Friday the 7th of December 2007

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE NORTHERN YASAWA GROUP, NORTHEASTERN VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, TAVEUNI, VANUA LEVU, NORTHERN LAU GROUP, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

A STORM WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE SOUTHERN YASAWA GROUP, CENTRAL PARTS OF VITI LEVU, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.

A GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.

SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN CENTRE 940HPA [CATEGORY 4] WAS LOCATED NEAR 15 DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 177 DECIMAL 4 EAST OR ABOUT 135 KILOMETRES NORTH OF YASAWA OR 185 KILOMETRES NORTHWEST OF NABOUWALU OR 235 KILOMETRES WEST-NORTHWEST OF LABASA AT 10AM TODAY. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE, THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 175 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS UP TO 250 KM/HR. THE CYCLONE IS NOW MOVING EAST ABOUT 20 KM/HR BUT EXPECTED TO CURVE SOUTHEAST LATER.

FOR THE NORTHERN YASAWA GROUP, NORTHEASTERN VITI LEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, TAVEUNI, VANUA LEVU, NORTHERN LAU GROUP, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS, WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE THIS EARLY AFTERNOON, STRENGTHENING FURTHER TO DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE AND THEN TO VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF UPTO 175 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 250 KM/HR LATER TODAY.

FOR THE SOUTHERN YASAWA GROUP, CENTRAL PARTS OF VITI LEVU, AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS, WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE LATER TODAY. WINDS STRENGTHENING FURTHER TO DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF UPTO 120 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 170 KM/HR FROM TONIGHT.

OVER THE REST OF FIJI, WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE OF 65 TO 85 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 110 KM/HR FROM TONIGHT.

EXPECT WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS, RIVERS AND STREAMS. SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE.

FOR ROTUMA.
NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS FRESH AND GUSTY. PERIODS OF RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. ROUGH SEAS. MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS,

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:EXPECT WINDS OF VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WITHIN 35 MILES OF CYCLONE CENTRE WITH PHENOMINAL SEAS. DESTRUCTIVE STORM FORCE WINDS WITHIN 55 MILES OF CENTRE WITH VERY HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS TO 90 MILES WITH VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY
SWELLS.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 2PM TODAY

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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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