Tropical Cyclone Yasa has rapidly weakened
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Update: 19th of December, 10.00 a.m. UTC
Cyclone Yasa, currently located near 21.7S 178.0W, is moving toward the southwest at 15km/h (8 knots).
The system is not directly impacting the island nation of Tonga but it is close enough to bring gale-force winds to the Tongatapu island group.Maximum sustained winds are 85 km/h (45 knots).
Yasa is expected to steadily weaken throughout the weekend and degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone by the beginning of the next week.
Update: 18th of December, 10.00 a.m. UTC
Yasa, located near 18.6S 178.6W, has rapidly weakened. Moving near 11 km/h (6 knots) southwestward to southward.
Maximum sustained winds are near 139 km/h (75 knots).
It is forecasted that Yasa will steadily weaken.
Update: 17th of December, 9.30 a.m. UTC
Located near 16.30S 178.48E, Yasa has made landfall, earlier than it was expected, on Bua, Vanua Levu, Fiji as Category 4 hurricane-equivalent. The system is moving southeast at 18 km/h (9.7 knots).
The cyclone is forecasted to be located about 25 km west-northwest of Koro or about 130 km north-east of Suva today and about 80 km east of Moala or 230 km east of Suva tomorrow morning.
Fiji's government ordered a nationwide curfew on Thursday. A potentially devastating cyclone is expected to unleash powerful winds and flooding.
Update: 16th of December, 9.30 a.m. UTC
Yasa has significantly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane-equivalent strength. Located near 14.6S 174.1E, the system moves near 11km/h (6 knots).
Maximum sustained winds are 260 km/h (140 knots).
Yasa is expected to weaken before it approaches the main islands of Fiji on Thursday evening. It is forecasted to reach the northern island of Venua Levu on early Friday morning with maximum sustained winds near 220 km/h (120 knots).
Additional weakening is then expected as the cyclone emerges to the south of the islands on Saturday morning.
Update: 15th of December, 10.00 a.m. UTC
Located at 14.9S 173.0E, Yasa has strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane-equivalent. Yasa is slowly tracking eastward at 6 knots and is expected to continue this general motion.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to 105 knots.
Yasa is expected to be near Category 3 hurricane-equivalent as it passes between the main Fijian islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Update: 14th of December, 1.00 p.m. UTC
Cyclone Yasa, currently located at 15.7S 172.3 E, is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 km/h (3 knots).
The system is expected to gain strength and reach hurricane-equivalent strength by Tuesday morning and begin to move toward the southeast.
Currently, it is forecasted for Yasa to near Category 3 hurricane-equivalent strength as it passes very narrowly to the southwest of the Fijian island of Viti Levu on Friday night.The system should not make a direct impact on the island but tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall are possible across portions of the island, affecting the cities of Nadi and Suva.
https://www.windy.com/-Wind-accumulation-gustAccu?gustAccu,-18.448,174.880,6,internal
