Update on cyclone Mick

The winds they are a blowin'. It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas. After all it is cyclone season and we should expect nothing less than a few of them to pass by. Unfortunately this one is passing right through.

Special Weather Bulletin Number SIX for Fiji ON TROPICAL CYCLONE MICK  ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 1:14am on Monday the 14th of December 2009  

TROPICAL  CYCLONE WARNING.  A TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI, VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA, LOMAIVITI GROUP AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS. A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.  A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR ROTUMA.  

TROPICAL CYCLONE MICK [995HPA] CENTRE CAT 1 WAS LOCATED NEAR 15 DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 176 DECIMAL 1 EAST OR ABOUT 290 KM NORTH-NORTHWEST OF NADI OR ABOUT 360 KM WEST-NORTHWEST OF LABASA AT 12 AM THIS MORNING. 

THE CYCLONE IS INTENSIFYING. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 65 TO 75 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 90 KM/HR. THE CYCLONE IS CURRENTLY MOVING SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 20 KM/HR.  ON THIS FORECAST TRACK THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO LIE ABOUT 140 KM TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST OF NADI OR ABOUT 260 KM WEST OF LABASA AT 12 PM TODAY AND ABOUT 40 KM TO THE NORTHEAST OF NADI OR ABOUT 205 KM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF LABASA AT  12AM TOMORROW.  

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS WILL BEGIN A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CENTRE PASSES OVERHEAD OR NEARBY.   FOR VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI, VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA, LOMAIVITI GROUP AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS:  STRONG WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 65 TO 75 KM/HR WITH GUSTS  TO 90 KM/HR FROM TODAY.    

FOR THE REST OF FIJI: STRONG WINDS INCREASING TO DAMAGING GALE FORCE WITH AVERAGE SPEEDS OF 65 KM/HR WITH GUSTS  TO 85 KM/HR FROM TOMORROW NIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY.    FURTHER PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. FLOODING INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS.  

FOR ROTUMA: NORTHERLY WINDS 35 TO 55 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 80 KM/HR. FURTHER RAIN, HEAVY AT TIMES AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS. 

ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS. HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELL.  The following information is provided especially for the mariners: EXPECT WINDS OF 35 TO 40 KNOTS WITHIN 150 MILES OF CENTRE. HIGH SEAS. DAMAGING HEAVY NORTHWEST SWELLS.   POOR VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.  

THE NEXT SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 5.30 AM  TODAY.