Cyclone Mick moves towards Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Storm Warning is now in place for Yasawa and Mamanuca, Viti Levu, Beqa and nearby smaller islands while a gale warning remains in force for the whole of the Fiji Group as Tropical Cyclone Mick continues to move towards Viti Levu.

Nadi Weather Office Director Rajendra Prasad said Tropical Cyclone Mick has changed its path.

Tropical Cyclone Mick was located near 16 decimal 6 South, 176 decimal 6 East, or about 160 kilometres North West of Nadi or 260 kilometres North West of Suva or about 300 kilometres West of Labasa at 8am today.

The cyclone is intensifying.

Close to its centre the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of 85 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 120 kilometres per hour and winds of 65 kilometres per hour to 80 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 100 kilometres per hour within 270 kilometres of centre.

Tropical Cyclone Mick is moving towards the South South East at 15 kilometres per hour.

On this forecast track, the cyclone centre is expected to lie about 20 kilometres to the North North East of Nadi or about 115 kilometres West North West of Suva at 7pm today and about 145 kilometres to the East North East of Nadi or about 40 kilometres South East of Suva at 7am tomorrow.