TROPICAL CYCLONE GITA HITS SOUTH PACIFIC

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING IN Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji
A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR MATUKU, TOTOYA, MOALA, KADAVU AND NEARBY
SMALLER ISLANDS AND IS CANCELLED ONO-I-LAU, AND VATOA.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE GITA CENTRE 935HPA CATEGORY 4 WAS LOCATED NEAR 21.1
SOUTH 178.7 EAST OR ABOUT 230 KILOMETRES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF KADAVU AND 240
KILOMETRES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF MATUKU AT 5:30 am TODAY. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE
CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 185 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS
TO 260 KM/HR. THE CYCLONE MOVING WEST AT ABOUT 16 KM/HR.
ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED ABOUT 290 KILOMETRES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF KADAVU AND 370 KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST OF MATUKU AT 5:30 pm
TODAY AND ABOUT 410 KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST OF KADAVU AND 530 KILOMETRES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF MATUKU AT 5.30AM TOMORROW MORNING.
FOR MATUKU, TOTOYA, MOALA, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS:
DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEED OF 85KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO
120KM/HR. PERIODS OF RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. DAMAGING
HEAVY SWELLS WITH SEA FLOODING OF COASTAL AREAS.
FOR THE REST OF FIJI:
STRONG SOUTHWEST TO NORTHERLY WINDS WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 60KM/HR AND
MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 80KM/HR. OCCASIONAL RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY
THUNDERSTORMS. LOCALISED HEAVY FALLS MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.