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Fiji Live
Fri, 12 Mar 2010
SUVA, Fiji ---- A strong wind warning has been issued for all Fiji waters as the country prepares for a tropical cyclone this weekend.
The country’s Disaster Management Office, DISMAC, has also issued a follow-up alert, adding to the weather office’s warning of flash floods this weekend.
DISMAC said the low pressure system, expected to form into a cyclone later today, is expected to bring along heavy rain and squally thunderstorms. Flooding is also expected in low lying areas.
Education officials said schools had been told to close for the day so that students could make their way home early.
The system is located about 700 kilometres north of Udu Point and is expected to bring about rain in the eastern and north eastern parts of the country later today.
The weather office expects the system to pass directly over the group this weekend.DISMAC has urged the public to monitor the situation carefully.
Director of Meteorology Rajendra Prasad told Fiji Live that a tropical depression 720 kilometres northwest of Udu Point could be curving and going right across the group this weekend.
“We should feel the direct effects of this system by Saturday night or Sunday morning,” he said.
He said weather patterns had not changed much as yet because the system was tightening and rain bands were converging into the centre of the system.
However, winds should be picking up in the open seas and the north eastern and eastern parts of Fiji should experience rain from today.
He said a second system near Vanuatu was expected to move towards the Queensland coast but there was a slight possibility that it could curve and come back towards Fiji.
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