As Fiji braces for severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa (Cat.5), Tonga Met. Director ‘Ofa Fa’anunu advised that Tonga should prepare too.

“Generally, when Fiji is affected, 80% of the time there are effects on Tonga, so my advice for now is for the people to prepare for a potentially severe cyclone that could affect Tonga over the weekend,” he told Matangi Tonga this afternoon.

However, he said there is much uncertainty in the track at this point in time “so we are not quite sure weather TC Yasa will affect Tonga by the weekend. But there is indication that Fiji is likely to be affected."

“On the current forecast, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua island groups are at higher risk of being impacted.” 

Meanwhile, TC Zazu (Category 1) has moved away from Tonga. Tonga Met cancelled its Tropical Cyclone warning for Zazu at 11am today. They are now monitoring the situation with TC Yasa, and will reactivate the Warning Centre if necessary to provide the necessary warnings in the next day or two if warranted, he added.

Meanwhile, Fiji Met reported this afternoon that severe TC Yasa was located 395km northwest of Nadi at 12:00pm today. It is moving at about 12km/hr.

Close to its centre, TC Yasa is expected to have average winds up to 220km/hr with momentary gusts up to 315km/hr.

On its current track, TC Yasa is expected to be located about 300km north-northwest of Nadi and 330km south-southwest of Rotuma at 6:00am on Thursday, 17 December. It will track closer to Fiji on Friday and at 12:00 am the cyclone expected to be located about 120km north-northeast of Suva and 100km southwest of Labasa.

Destructive winds are forecast to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby.

TC Yasa is expected to move between Fiji's two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and head south near Tonga by Saturday, 19 December.