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Destructive winds and heavy rain are lashing most parts of the Fiji Islands as Tropical Cyclone Mick intensifies off the west coast of Viti Levu heading south east across the country.
The cyclone has been upgraded to category 2, meaning it can cause damages to houses, trees, caravans, and even pose risk of power failure.
At 11am today, Tropical Cyclone Mick’s centre was located near 16.9 south 176.9 east or about 110 km north-northwest of Nadi or 210 km northwest of Suva.
“The cyclone is intensifying,” confirmed Director of Meteorology Rajendra Prasad.
Close to its centre the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of 90 to 110 km/hr with momentary gusts to150 km/hr and winds of 65 km/hr to 80 km/hr, with momentary gusts to 100 km/hr within 270 km of the centre.
The cyclone is moving towards the south-southeast at 15 km/hr.
On this forecast track the cyclone centre is expected to lie about 40 km to the east-southeast of Nadi or about 70 km west-northwest of Suva at midnight tonight and about 185 km to the east-southeast of Nadi or about 75 km southeast of Suva at mid-day tomorrow.
Prasad said destructive winds will begin a few hours before the centre passes overhead or nearby.
For Yasawa and the Mamanuca islands, Viti Levu, Beqa and nearby smaller islands, destructive storm force winds with average speeds of 90 to 100 km/hr with momentary gusts to 130 km/hr are to be expected.
For the rest of Fiji, there will be damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 65 to 80 km/hr with gusts to 100 km/hr.
Heavy rain, squally thunderstorms, sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is already being experienced in some parts of the country.
According to radio reports, a number of families in the Yasawa group had to flee to safety after their homes were blown away by strong winds.
Those affected in this picturesque group of islands are now taking shelter in designated evacuation centres.
Ministry of Transport spokeswoman Sainiana Waqainabete has warned motorists of flooded roads and bridges in flood prone areas around the country, cautioning travelers to wait out the storm.
Fiji’s second city, Lautoka, like other towns in the western division, is bracing for floods with the cyclone’s centre predicted to cross over this afternoon.
The National Disaster Management Office spokesman Pajiliai Dobui has advised the public to stock up on essentials and move to higher ground while it’s still daylight.
