Short Satellite Animation: Cyclone Evan roars into Fiji
17/12/2012 5:01am
> From the WeatherWatch archives
This infrared satellite animation – courtesy of NOAA (US Govt) – shows Cyclone Evan slamming Fiji’s north west corner this afternoon.
Notice how the island of Fiji weakens the centre of the storm as it moves in – however Evan remains a powerful super cyclone and will continue to lash western Fiji with hurricane force winds tonight before easing back to gales overnight.
Torrential rain will ease back overnight too but periods of heavy rain are still expected on Tuesday.
By Wednesday Fiji should see the weather returning to ‘normal’ while Evan heads towards northern New Zealand – weakening as it does so.
Evan is expected to stall over northern New Zealand this weekend before fizzling out around Christmas/Boxing Day.
– NOAA
– WeatherWatch.co.nz
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Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 17 Dec 2012.
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Guest on 17/12/2012 9:23am
Wow, Evan’s eye showed up just before he made landfall. Classic indicator of a strengthening system – before land interaction had a weakening effect as stated above.
The west coast got swept by the eastern eyewall – with the storm moving south this is where the strongest winds would have been. No wonder Fiji is copping it bad.
JTWC estimated that Evan intensified to 125 knots – sustained winds of 230kph with higher gusts, just prior to landfall, and a mid range Cat 4 on the US Saffir-Simpson scale.
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Robert on 17/12/2012 8:36am
Looks like the Island of Vanua Levu took the major impact before Veti Levu. The river town of Lambasa would have been devastated.
Hope Nadi Airport and town are OK.
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