The Northern Division has been put on warning as Tropical Cyclone Tomas moves steadily towards land with the rest of the country expected to be put on a warning later in the afternoon.
Before mid day today, the Nadi Weather office issued a tropical cyclone warning for the Northern Division, Taveuni, outer islands and Northern Lau group with the rest of the country still on a Tropical Alert.
However, Nadi Weather Office Director, Rajen Prasad said that Tropical Cyclone Tomas is now located 340 North-North West of Udu Point and is traveling at a South west direction and is expected to turn either South or may change direction at any time, which may see the whole country put on warning.
According to Prasad, Tropical Cyclone Tomas is 340 kilometres North North east of Udu Point and is moving South at a speed of 11 kilometres an hour, where he said taking into account slow movement, this will mean prolonged effect over a particular area.
In its projected path, Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to pass through Labasa, Savusavu and then affecting part of the Lau group, Lomaiviti/Koro and also affecting parts of the eastern parts of Viti Levu such as Suva and Nausori.
Prasad stressed that when Tropical Cyclone Tomas hits land, it is expected to be upgraded to a Category Three Hurricane which may cause alot of damage and this is not the time for people to take any warning lightly.
According to the Nadi Weather Office, Category two Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to have at its Center - average winds of 110 kilometers an hour to 155 kilometers within the next 18 to 24 hours.
For the Northern parts of the country, winds are expected to strengthen further and reach damaging gale force by early by early tomorrow morning with destructive storm force and hurricane later tomorrow.
Damaging gale force winds by early tomorrow morning with average speeds of 85 kilometres and momentary gusts of 120 kilometres an hour.
The damaging gales and strong winds are expected to extend to about 280km from the center of Tropical Tomas.
For the Rest of Fiji, Easterly winds are expected to strengthen later today with winds reaching upto 85kilometres later on in the day.
Winds expected to pick up with damaging heavy swells and flooding of low lying coastal areas.
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Tropical Cyclone Tomas moves steadily towards Fiji
