APCEDI Alert SP/WF 19P Tomas #2-2010: Cyclone Tomas Threatens Fiji and Wallis and Futuna

The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre are issuing guidance on Cyclone Tomas, a tropical cyclone that is moving northwest of the French Territory of Wallis and Futuna.

This centre of this system is currently located 300 kms northwest of capital city Matāʻutu on Wallis Island and 325 kms north of Futuna. It is moving west at 7 knots. Maximum sustained winds are 55 kts making Tomas a strong tropical storm. Cyclone Tomas is expected to slowly strengthen into tomorrow and will likely reach Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Most models are forecasting Cyclone Tomas to slowly turn toward the south-southwest over the next 24-48 hours towards Fiji.

A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for all of Fiji including Rotuma. A Gale Warning is in place for all of Wallis and Futuna.

All residents of Wallis and Futuna and Fiji should monitor this cyclone carefully and follow Government advice. Where required by Government, all cyclone preparations should be rushed to completion.

Special Weather Bulletin Number FOURTEEN for Wallis and Futuna ON
TROPICAL CYCLONE TOMAS ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI Mar 12/2222 UTC 2010 UTC.

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A GALE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR WALLIS AND FUTUNA.

TROPICAL CYCLONE TOMAS CENTRE 985HPA CATEGORY 2 WAS LOCATED NEAR 11 DECIMAL 3 SOUTH 178 DECIMAL 2 WEST OR 165 MILES NORTHWEST OF WALLIS OR 180 MILES NORTH OF FUTUNA AT 122100 UTC. THE CYCLONE IS MOVING WEST AT 06 KNOTS. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED HAVE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 55 KNOTS INCREASING TO 75 KNOTS IN THE NEXT 18 TO 24 HOURS. EXPECT WINDS OVER 63 KNOTS WITHIN 30 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE CENTRE IN 12 TO 18 HOURS. EXPECT WINDS OVER 47 KNOTS WITHIN 50 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE. EXPECT WINDS OVER 33 KNOTS WITHIN 150 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE.

ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED ABOUT 135 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF FUTUNA AND 175 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF WALLIS AND ABOUT AT 130900 UTC AND ABOUT 115 MILES NORTHWEST OF FUTUNA OR ABOUT 210 MILES WEST OF WALLIS AT 132100 UTC.

FOR WALLIS:
DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 40 KNOTS WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. FREQUENT HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

FOR FUTUNA:
WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 40 KNOTS WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. RAIN BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND HEAVY WITH SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. VERY ROUGH TO HIGH SEAS.
DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS EXPECTED.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS BULLETIN.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR WALLIS AND FUTUNA WILL BE ISSUED AT 130130 UTC OR EARLIER.

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Special Weather Bulletin Number FOUR FOR FIJI ON TROPICAL CYLONE TOMAS ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 8:06am on Saturday the 13th of March 2010

TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE WHOLE FIJI GROUP.

TROPICAL CYCLONE TOMAS CENTRE 985HPA CAT 2 WAS LOCATED NEAR 11 DECIMAL 1 SOUTH 178 DECIMAL 0 WEST OR ABOUT 600 KM NORTH-NORTHEAST OF UDU POINT AT 7AM TODAY. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS
ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS OF 95 KM/HR INCREASING TO 140 KM/HR IN THE NEXT 18 TO 24 HOURS. THE CYCLONE IS NOW MOVING WEST AT 13 KM/HR AND IS INTENSIFYING. ON THIS FORECAST TRACK THE CYCLONE MAY BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS OVER MOST PARTS OF FIJI IN THE NEXT 30 TO 48 HOURS.

FOR FIJI:
EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS INCREASING TO 35 TO 45 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 65 KM/HR, POSSIBLY INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE IN THE NEXT 30 TO 48 HOURS. OCCASIONAL RAIN, BECOMING FREQUENT WITH SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS DEVELOPING. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS POSSIBLE.

FOR ROTUMA :
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS BECOMING FRESH AND GUSTY. OCCASIONAL RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY SWELLS .THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ESPECIALLY FOR THE MARINERS: A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ALL FIJI WATERS. EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS, INCREASING TO 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS IN 18 TO 24 HOURS. ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS DEVELOPING.

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN WILL BE ISSUED AT 3.30 PM TODAY.



APCEDI will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

Please go to http://www.afap.org/apcedi/ for the complete interactive alert on Cyclone Tomas.
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Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator

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