Life-threatening Tropical Cyclone Winston barrels toward Fiji

February 19,2016; 10:38PM,EST

 

 

Tropical Cyclone Winston continues to barrel toward Fiji with catastrophic force.
Winston is on a collision course with Fiji and is now the equivalent of a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific or Atlantic basins or a super typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean.
There is a major danger to lives and property in the direct path of Winston. A countrywide curfew went into effect at 6 p.m. local time Saturday, the Fijian government said.

This satellite loop of Winston is courtesy of NOAA
Winston is expected to continue to the west through the weekend which will take the center of the storm across Fiji.
The most severe and life-threatening impacts will be into early Sunday, local time. Major wind damage, flooding, mudslides and coastal inundation are expected to occur during this time.
As Winston tracks westward, it will impact the region Saturday with sustained winds over 230 km/h (143 mph) and gusts up to 325 km/h (202 mph) which will lead to severe wind damage and extensive coastal inundation. There will be torrential flooding as well.
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Saturday afternoon, Winston battered the southern coast of Vanua Levu with severe winds, torrential flooding and extensive coastal inundation. The town of Savusavu and especially the village of Namalata will be severely impacted by Winston.
From Saturday evening into Saturday night, the cyclone will pass close to the northern coast of Viti Levu. Gusts over 241 km/h (150 mph) and sustained winds over 160 km/h (100 mph) can be expected even though the storm will start to slowly weaken. Extensive wind damage and torrential flooding will impact the north coast and the threat for severe storm surge will increase Saturday night as soon as Winston passes by to the north and northwest and winds shift into the north.
Sustained winds of 170 km/h (106 mph) have already been reported on Vanua Mbalavu island from the passage of Winston, early Saturday morning local time.
On Sunday, Winston will be just west of the main island of Fiji, before making a southward turn early next week. Once Winston makes a southward turn, weakening is expected.
The Fiji Sun reported that air travel in the country has already been affected, with airlines waiving fees for affected travelers. Nadi International Airport had all flights cancelled and aircraft were taken to secure places.
According to the Fijian Government, the Land Transport Authority requested that all public transportation stop operations at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday across the county's Central Division. The government also urged residents against any unnecessary travel throughout the country due to the impacts of the storm.
The government opened more than 900 evacuation shelters in the country's Central and Northern divisions as part of its response.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologists Bob Smerbeck and Kristina Pydynowski along with staff writers Kevin Byrne and Mark Leberfinger contributed content to this article.