Tag Archives: Lau Group

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa Hits Fiji

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa hit Fiji early on Thursday. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Yasa was located at latitude 16.8°S and longitude 179.2°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) south of Naduri, Fiji. Yasa was moving toward the east-southeast at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 185 m.p.h. (295 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 922 mb.

The eye of Tropical Cyclone Yasa made landfall in Fiji on Vanua Levu west of Naduri early on Thursday. Yasa was a large, powerful tropical cyclone when it hit Fiji. Tropical Cyclone Yasa was the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at the time of landfall. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Yasa. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Yasa was 31.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 23.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 54.7. Yasa was capable of causing severe damage.

Tropical Cyclone Yasa brought destructive winds to Vanua Levu when the core of the circulation passed over that island. Severe wind damage was likely. Yasa was capable of causing a storm surge of up to 15 feet (5 meters) on the north coast of Vanua Levu. It was also dropping heavy rain and flash floods were likely. Bands in the western half of Tropical Cyclone Yasa caused strong winds and heavy rain over the eastern part of Viti Levu. Widespread power outages were likely.

Tropical Cyclone Yasa will move toward the southeast over the islands in the Lau Group later on Thursday. Yasa will weaken as it crosses Vanua Levu, but it will still be a strong tropical cyclone. Tropical Cyclone Yasa could cause serious wind damage and cause flash floods on many of the islands in the Lau Group.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai Moves Across Southern Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Sarai moved across southern parts of Fiji on Saturday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Sarai was located at latitude 19.9°S and longitude 179.1°E which put it about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Matuku, Fiji.  Sarai was moving toward the east at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai strengthened into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Saturday as it moved across the southern part of Fiji.  The center of Sarai passed south of Kadavu, but raindbands on the northern side of the circulation brought gusty winds and heavy rain to the island.  A ragged eye appeared intermittently on satellite images.  The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Tropical Cyclone Sarai had a large circulation.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai will move into an environment that will become increasingly unfavorable for intensification.  Sarai will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  So, there will be enough energy in the upper ocean to support a strong tropical cyclone.  Tropical Cyclone Sarai will move south of an upper level ridge.  The ridge will produce westerly winds which will get stronger during the next several days.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  When the shear gets stronger, Tropical Cyclone Sarai will start to weaken.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Sarai toward the east during the next 48 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Sarai will move across Matuku, Fiji during the next few hours.  Sarai will reach the Lau Group of Fiji Islands during the next 24 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Sarai could reach parts of Tonga within 48 hours.  Sarai will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to all of those places during the next 48 hours.