A hurricane warning is in force for parts of Viti Levu from Nadi to Rakiraki to Korovou to Navua, and Yadua, Kia, Mali, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Yasawa group, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Lomaiviti group.
A storm warning remains in force for Mamanuca group, the rest of Viti Levu, Cikobia and the rest of Lau group.
A gale warning remains in force for Rotuma, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for coastal waters of Rotuma, Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Threat Map Number 59 issued 7:14am on Thursday 17 December 2020. [image: Fiji Met]
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji.
A flash flood warning remains in force for the low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams for Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, areas adjacent to Dreketilailai to Qawa River and is now in force for low lying areas and areas adjacent to Bagata River in Savusavu, and low lying areas and areas adjacent to Vatukacevaceva and Rakiraki Town.
A flash flood alert remain in force for low lying areas and areas adjacent to major rivers for Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is located about 245 kilometres North North West of Nadi or about 280 kilometres West North West of Labasa.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds of upto 250 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 350 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is moving East South East at about 18 kilometres per hour.
On this track, at 8pm tonight the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 90 kilometres West South West of Labasa and the centre is expected to be located very close or over the province of Bua.
Destructive winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
Yasawa group, Viti Levu (from Nadi to Rakiraki to Korovou to Navua], Yadua, Galoa, Kia, Mali, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Lomaiviti group - expect very destructive hurricane force winds of upto 240 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts of upto 345 kilometres per hour, periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, flash flooding of low lying areas expected, landslides likely especially with continuous heavy falls, phenomenal seas and damaging heavy swells.
Storm surge with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas expected during high tides, with storm surge heights up to 3 metres expected along the coast when the cyclone centre passes nearby.
For Mamanuca group, the rest of Viti Levu, Cikobia and the rest of Lau group - expect destructive storm force winds upto 110 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts upto 155 kilometres per hour, periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, flash flooding of low lying areas expected, landslides likely especially with continuous heavy falls, phenomenal seas and damaging heavy swells. Storm surge with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas expected during high tides, with storm surge heights up to 3 metres expected.
Have your supplies ready, have some standby non-perishable food items and water, ensure you have a transistor radio and batteries to follow the weather reports on Legend FM and ensure you have emergency lights and torches.
You can also check out the latest updates, satellite images and track maps on our website, fijivillage
You can also contact us on 3314766, Vodafone number 9923352 or our Digicel number 7734766 for any queries on evacuation centres or assistance for emergency personnel.
Stay with us for developments.
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Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the curfew will start from 4pm today.
Bainimarama has told Fijivillage that the curfew period will be from 4pm today to 6am tomorrow.
The Prime Minister has also tweeted that over 850,000 Fijians are in the direct path of the world’s strongest storm, category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
Bainimarama says more than 95% of Fiji’s population are in the direct path of TC Yasa.
He says people should prepare, take cover, take care and pray for Fiji.
Due to the approaching cyclone, the Association of Banks in Fiji confirms that all banks will be closed today and tomorrow until further notice.
Association of Banks in Fiji members includes ANZ Bank, BSP, Bank of Baroda, Bred Bank, HFC and Westpac.
Customers can access ATMs and other E-channels, throughout the country.
All Nasinu and Nausori markets will be closed from midday today and will remain closed tomorrow.
This has been confirmed by Nausori Market Manager, Jitendra Singh who says the council will monitor the situation tomorrow and decide on the opening of the market on Saturday.
Singh is also urging all roadside vendors to take necessary precautions and remove all the temporary sheds.
Supermarkets and essential services in Savusavu and Labasa will only operate until midday today while other businesses will not operate as TC Yasa continues to head towards Fiji.
President of Savusavu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ravi Kumar says they experienced heavy rain last night and places such as Batiri are flooded however they have not experienced strong winds.
Meanwhile, it also rained heavily in Labasa last night and areas such as Seaqaqa, Laqere in Tabia are flooded.
44 families that are close to the vicinity of Energy Fiji Limited’s transmission lines in Cunningham have been moved to the Delainamasi Primary School evacuation centre.
The National Disaster Management Office says they were moved with the help of first responders.
Yasawa has been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds from last night as Tropical Cyclone Yasa moves closer to the Fiji group.
Anare Tiko of Gunu Village in Naviti Island, Yasawa says at 3 this morning, they left for the Gaunavou Primary School.
He says a few coconut trees have been uprooted.
Meanwhile, Pastor Viliame Stark of Nasoqo Village in Naviti Island says the destructive winds are causing heavy swells and they have moved those families beside the sea to the evacuation centre at Gaunavou Primary School.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
