Severe TC Winston Media Release 7 (Cat-4), 18 February 2016
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Download document SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE – WINSTON (CAT4)
A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for Lau group.
A strong wind warning remains in force for Lau waters including Koro Sea.
At 3pm today, Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston (953hPa) Category 4 was located near 17.1 degree South latitude and 171.2 degree West longitude or about 890km east-northeast of Ono-i-Lau and about 820km east of Lakeba. It is currently moving west at 5km/hr (about 03knots). Close to its centre, the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of 165 km/hr (about 90 knots) with momentary gusts up to 230 km/hr (about 125 knots).
On its projected path, TC Winston is expected to maintain its Category 4 intensity, briefly intensify to category 5 intensity and then weaken to category 4 again as it tracks westward towards Fiji. On this forecasted track, the cyclone may bring damaging gale force winds over the Lau group from Saturday afternoon.