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This is turning out to be the WORST cyclone in southern hemisphere history, with winds up to 325 km/hr (200 mph)
Fiji's Lau group pounded by Winston
The Fiji Meteorological Service says islands in the Lau group are now feeling the effects of tropical cyclone Winston.
20 February, 2016
Tracking
map for Tropical cyclone Winston.
Photo: Fiji
Meteorological Service
TC Winston
Taveuni right now
It
says the category five cyclone has average winds of 220 kilometres an
hour and momentary gusts of 315 kilometres an our.
The
cyclone is moving west at about 22 kilometres an our.
The
high winds generated by Cyclone Winston over Fiji can be seen on this
global wind map. Photo: EarthWindMap
A
tropical cyclone forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service,
Misaeli Funaki, said "On its track it went really close to
Vanuabalavu at 7am local time, an island in the Lau group, and the
weather observation centre recorded winds of 185 kph."
He
said they are yet to receive reports of damages on the ground.
Watch:
Even with Tropical Cyclone Winstone still a few hours away, the winds
and waves are picking up at a beach an hour out of Suva:
Mr
Funaki also adds Winston shifted slightly overnight, and it's now
expected to pass in-between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, moving closer
to the bigger island of Vanua Levu, with the capital Suva narrowly
missing a direct hit.
But
he said while some islands may not be in the hurricane warning areas,
the devastation will still be damaging at this is a category five
system.
A
satellite image at taken at 6.30am local time
Photo: Fiji
Meteorological Service
Evacuation centres open
Fiji's
National Disaster Management office says more than 700 evacuation
centres across the country are ready and on standby in the four
regions.
Some
families have already moved into the centres according to the
office's George Dregaso.
"Those
that don't have a proper house and those living along coastal and
rivers that are vulnerable to storm surge and flooding."
Mr
Dregaso has urged those living in the low lying areas have been
advised to move to higher ground.
He
also added that people have been advised to secure their homes and
keep a check on their children.
350 Pacific
#TCWinston hasn't arrived yet but already people are posting up photos like these http://on.fb.me/1QpF2rs
Dan Gavidi
#Fiji disaster emergency officials briefed on progress of TC Winston & the prepared response by each agency
UPDATE
Winds
in Fiji have been reprorted as high as 325 km/hr (200 mph)
Curfew imposed,
communication cut, as
Winston tears through Fiji
A
nationwide curfew was imposed and a state of emergency declared in
Fiji on Saturday as cyclone Winston slowly moved through the country
with winds gusting as high as 325 kilometres an our.
Communication
was also cut to some of the outer islands as they were hit by the
category five cyclone, which is predicted to be one of the most
destructive to have ever hit the country of close to one million
people.
Ed Joyce
The
cyclone was setting in to the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua
Levu on Saturday evening, with strong winds and heavy swells lashing
coastlines, and heavy persistent rain driving in.
It
is currently about 130 km northeast of the capital, Suva, tracking
west at about 25 km/h.
Winston
was forecast to move between the two islands on Saturday evening,
with average winds of 230km/h, but gusting as high as 325km/h.
New
Zealand's Metservice said by some measurements, it was the strongest
tropical cyclone to ever form in the southern hemisphere.
The
strongest cyclone ever
observed in the Southern
Hemisphere
3
pm Saturday (Fiji): According to JTWC's database, Cyclone WINSTON is
now the strongest cyclone ever observed in the S Hemisphere--
stronger even than Cyclone MONICA of 2006. The JTWC estimates
WINSTON's maximum 1-minute winds are 160 knots (185 mph/295 km/hr).
For comparison, here are the max cyclone winds estimated/recorded in
other basins:
*
Hurricane PATRICIA (2015) - EPAC: 185 knots
*
Super Typhoon HAIYAN (2013) - WPAC: 170 knots
*
Hurricane WILMA (2005) - NATL: 160 knots
(Winds
estimated in Typhoon NANCY (1961) and Hurricane ALLEN (1980) have
have not been reanalyzed and are not included. The 1935 hurricane in
Florida USA is also estimated to have had winds of 160 knots.)
Note these speeds have increased to 325 km/hr (175 knots)
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