Topic: Tropical Cyclone Lin : Fiji from 4 April 2009

[Colin Maitland]

JTWC have been tracking this one for a few days, it has now formed into  a cyclone in Fijian waters.

 Fiji and Rotuma   

(Special Weather Bulletin Number FOUR for Fiji ON TROPICAL CYCLONE
LIN
ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 9:02am on Saturday the 4th of April 2009

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR LAU GROUP.
A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR TAVEUNI AND NEARBY
SMALLER ISLANDS IS NOW CANCELLED.
A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.

TROPICAL CYCLONE LIN [995HPA] CENTRE WAS RE-LOCATED NEAR 16 DECIMAL
6 SOUTH 176 DECIMAL 4 WEST OR ABOUT 330KM EAST-NORTHEAST OF LAKEBA
AT 8 AM THIS MORNING.
THE CYCLONE IS CURRENTLY MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 22 KM/HR AND EXPECTED
TO LIE ABOUT 350 KM TO THE EAST OF LAKEBA AT 6 PM TODAY.

ON THIS TRACK, IT IS EXPECTED TO BRING DAMAGING GALE FORCE WINDS TO
LAU GROUP.)

[Colin Maitland]

Tonga is now bracing themselves as Cyclone Lin, a Cat 2 system, is tracking towards them. The latest from Fiji warning centre:

Apr 04/1938 UTC 2009 UTC.
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

A STORM WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR HA'APAI, NOMUKA AND TONGATAPU
GROUPS AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS.
A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VAVA'U GROUP.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE NIUAS.

TROPICAL CYCLONE LIN [980HPA] CAT 2 CENTRE WAS LOCATED NEAR 20
DECIMAL 5 SOUTH 175 DECIMAL 5 WEST OR ABOUT 40 NAUTICAL MILES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF NOMUKA OR ABOUT 75 NAUTICAL MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF
HA'APAI AT 041900 UTC.

[JRees]

Its now gone to Wellington who downgraded it as soon as it moved into their AOR