Special weather bulletin number 22 for Fiji on Tropical Cyclone Tomas, as at 2.05am Tuesday 16th March 2010 issued by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), Nadi.
Hurricane warning remains in force for the eastern quarter of Vanua Levu, Rabi, Kioa, Taveuni, Qamea, Laucala, Naitauba, Yacata, Kanacea, Vanua Balavu, Mago, Cicia, Moala, Matuku, Totoya, and nearby islands.
Storm warning remains in force for the eastern half of Vanua Levu, Koro, Batiki, Nairai, Gau, Nayau, Lakeba, Kabara, Ono-i-Lau, and nearby islands.
Gale warning remains in force for Cikobia, eastern half of Viti Levu, Beqa, Kadavu, and rest of the Lau and Lomaiviti groups.
Strong wind warning is in force for the rest of the Fiji group.
Severe TC Tomas centre 930HPA category 4 was located near 16 decimal 8 south 179 decimal 6 west or about 120km east-southeast of Labasa or 255km northeast of Suva at 2.30am Tuesday 16th March.
Close to its centre, TC Tomas is expected to be located about 190km east of Suva or 105km west of Lakeba 3pm Tuesday 16th March, and about 230km south-southwest of Lakeba or 320km southeast of Suva at 3am Wednesday 17th March.
For eastern quarter of Vanua Levu, Rabi, Kioa, Taveuni, Qamea, Laucala, Naitauba, Yacata, Kanacea, Vanua Balavu, Mago, Cicia, Moala, Matuku, Totoya, and nearby islands: Winds increasing to very destructive hurricane force with average of 175km/hr with momentary gusts to 230km/hr. Frequent heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, phenominal seas, damaging heavy swells, and flooding including flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
For eastern half of Vanua Levu, Koro, Batiki, Nairai, Gau, Nayau, Lakeba, Kabara, Ono-i-Lau, and nearby islands: Winds increasing to destructive storm force with average speeds of 90km/hr with momentary gusts to 130km/hr. Frequent heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, very high seas, damaging heavy swells, flooding including flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
For Cikobia, eastern half of Viti Levu, Beqa, Kadavu, rest of the Lau and Lomaiviti groups: Winds increasing to damaging gale force with average speeds up to 75km/hr and momentary gusts to 110km/hr. Periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, very rough to high seas, damaging heavy swells, flooding including sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas expected.
For the rest of Fiji: Fresh to strong east to southeast winds, cloudy with occasional rain, heavy at times and a few thunderstorms, rough to very rough seas, and heavy swells.
For mariners
Hurricane force winds within 40 nautical miles of centre with phenominal seas. Storm force winds within 60 nautical miles of centre with very high seas. Gale force winds within 150 nautical miles of centre with high seas. Strong winds outside 150 miles of centre. Very rough seas and damaging heavy swells.