Tropical Cyclone Mona forms to the north of Rotuma

The Nadi Weather Office has confirmed that a Tropical Cyclone has formed to the north of Rotuma.

Nadi Weather Office Senior Forecaster, Amit Singh has confirmed this to Fijivillage saying Cyclone Mona is located about 130km north north-east of Rotuma and about 710km north of Nadi.

Tropical Cyclone Mona is currently a Category 1 Cyclone and is moving southwards at about 20km per hour.

Close to its center, the cyclone has winds up to 65km per hour gusting to 90km per hour.

Singh says as the cyclone moves southwards, it is expected to become slow moving and later track south-south east and there is a possibility for the system to become a Category Two Tropical Cyclone in the next 24 to 36 hours.

TC Mona Threat Track Map as at 4.20pm 3rd-Jan-2019 [Photo: met.gov.fj]

According to Singh, there is a lot of uncertainty associated with the track of Cyclone Mona but according to their available data, the cyclone is expected to pass over Vanua Levu on Sunday.

He says effects of Tropical Cyclone Mona are expected to be felt in the Northern Division from Saturday night into early Sunday.

Singh says there is also a chance that Tropical Cyclone Mona may track south south-west and come towards Viti Levu, however this will be confirmed later.

Singh says their forecast is Cyclone Mona will enter the Fiji Group as a category two cyclone with winds up to 95km per hour gusting to 130km per hour.