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MEDIA RELEASE No.9
10am Monday 04th January 2016
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE ULA
STORM WARNING WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR
FULAGA, OGEA, VATOA AND ONO-I-LAU IS CANCELLED.
A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ONO-I-LAU AND
VATOA.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST
OF LAU GROUP, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA GROUP, NORTHERN
AND SOUTHERN VITILEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, KADAVU,
VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI AND THE NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula (CAT3) was located near 21.6
degrees South latitude and 180.0 degrees longitude or about
170km west-southwest of Ono-i-lau or about 310km southsouthwest of Kabara at 6am this morning. Close to its centre,
the cyclone is expected to have average winds of 150km/hr
and momentary gusts to 205km/hr.
TC Ula approached the Southern Lau Group from east and
passed between Ogea and Vatoa around mid-day yesterday. It
continues to track southwest, moving away from the Southern
Lau Group at about 16km/hr.
On this track, the cyclone is expected to lie about 275km
southwest of Ono-i-lau or about 415km south-southwest of
Kabara at 1pm today and about 335km southwest of Ono-i-lau
or about 495km south-southwest of Kabara at 7am tomorrow
morning.
TC Ula is expected to gradually weaken in the next 12 to 24
hours, slow down on the current track and anticipated to track
north westwards. It poses no direct threat to Fiji at this stage.
FOR ONO-I-LAU AND VATOA:
Damaging gale force winds with speeds of 75km/hr and
momentary gusts to 100km/hr. Damaging gale force winds is
expected to ease during the next 6 hours as TC Ula moves
further away. Periods of heavy rain and squally
thunderstorms. Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of
low lying coastal areas.
FOR THE REST OF LAU GROUP, YASAWA AND
MAMANUCA GROUP, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
VITILEVU, LOMAIVITI GROUP, KADAVU, VANUA
LEVU, TAVEUNI AND THE NEARBY SMALLER
ISLANDS:
Strong southwest to northwest winds with average speed of
45km/hr gusting to 65km/hr. Occasional rain, heavy at times.
FOR THE REST OF FIJI:
Moderate to fresh west to southwest winds, gusty at times.
Occasional rain, heavy at times.
FOR MARINERS:
FOR SOUTHERN LAU WATERS AND SOUTHERN KORO
SEA:
Expect winds of hurricane force and phenomenal seas within
15 Nautical miles of centre.
Storm force winds and very high seas out to about 35 nautical
miles from centre. Gale force and high seas out to about 90
nautical miles in northern semicircle and 110 nautical miles in
southern semicircle from centre. Damaging heavy swells.
FOR THE REST OF FIJI WATERS:
Southwest to northwest winds 20 to 30 knots with gusts to 45
knots. Rough to very rough seas. Moderate to heavy swells.
Fig 1: Tropical Cyclone Ula Forecast Track Map issued from RSMC Nadi at 8am on Monday
4th January, 2016.
Fig 2: Mean Sea-Level Pressure chart issued from RSMC Nadi at 7am on Monday 04th
January, 2016.
TC Ula
Fig 3: Colourised Infrared satellite imagery at 6:30am on Monday 4th January, 2016.
-The white star indicates the supposed low level circulation centre of Severe TC Ula.
-The darker red is indicative of areas of heavy rainfall in a rain band.
Fig 4: Latest composite radar image at 8.30pm on Sunday 3rd January, 2016.
Rewa Catchment
Nabukaluka
Navolau
Waimanu
Nayavu
Nausori Bridge
Wailotua
Navua Catchment
Navua Town
Sabata
Rakiraki
Catchment
River Level (m)
6am
1.39
1.83
1.96
0.95
2.33
0.78
River Level (m)
6am
0.45
0.50
River Level (m)
6am
Warning Level (m)
STATUS
5.0
8.0
5.0
8.0
6.0
3.5
Warning Level (m)
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
STATUS
2.5
6.0
Warning Level (m)
Normal
Normal
STATUS
Vaileka Town
0.36
Normal
2.0
Vatukacevaceva
0.12
Normal
1.5
Sigatoka
River Level (m)
Warning Level (m)
STATUS
Catchment
6am
Tuva
1.82
Normal
4.5
Keyasi
1.08
Normal
5.0
Sigatoka Bridge
1.06
Normal
4.5
Table 1: River levels are normal in all major catchments.
Location
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
Maximum
Gusts
(knots)
(knots)
Vanuabalavu
Lakeba
Ono-i-lau
WSW
WSW
NE
24
24
51
33
33
74
Table 2: Maximum wind speed and gusts recorded from 6pm on Sunday 3rd to 6am on
Monday 04th January 2016.
Location
Nadi Airport
Suva/Laucala Bay
Nacocolevu
Lakeba
Matuku
Korolevu
Momi
24-hr Rainfall (mm)
13.8
Nil
11.0
22.0
13.5
11.0
13.0
Table 3: Rainfall from 9am on the 2nd January to 9am on the 3rd of January, 2015.
It is advisable that people are to remain prepared at all times and keep updated with the latest
weather bulletins. Keep listening to the radio for the updated information and take alerts and
warnings seriously.
For more details and the latest on weather, please contact the Tropical Cyclone Warning
Centre on 6736006, 9905376 or visit the Fiji Meteorological Service’s website,
www.met.gov.fj
ENDS.
R KUMAR
Director of Meteorology
for Permanent Secretary Infrastructure & Transport