Tropical Cyclone Mona is now moving North and is forecast to turn East and then later track Southeast towards Fiji in the next 12-24 hours.
Nadi Weather Office Senior Forecaster, Amit Singh has confirmed that Tropical Cyclone Mona was located about 400km North-Northwest of Yasawa-i-rara or about 500km Northwest of Labasa at 10 o’clock this morning.
Cyclone Mona is moving Northeast at about 8km/hr.
TC Mona Threat Track Map as at 8:56am 5 Jan 2019 [Photo: met.gov.fj]
Singh says based on the projections and the 6 hours delay the centre of Cyclone Mona could make landfall in Vanua Levu tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow night.
He adds that based on the uncertainty of the track, some of the guidance is showing that Cyclone Mona could track further south and the center could pass close to Viti Levu or even over Viti Levu.
These two scenarios still remain despite the delay in the movement of Tropical Cyclone Mona.
On the forecast track the centre is expected to be located about 360km North-Northwest of Yasawa-i-rara or about 440km Northwest of Labasa at 10 tonight.
Category two Tropical Cyclone Mona has winds of about 95km/hr with momentary gusts of about 130km/hr close to the centre.
Damaging gale force winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
A gale warning remains in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca groups and Western half of Vanua Levu.
A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
A strong wind warning remains in force for all land areas and waters of Fiji.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji.
A Flood warning remains in force for all low lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to major rivers of Fiji.
