– Category Five Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston has now entered the Fiji waters with average winds of 220 kilometres an hour and momentary gusts up to 315km an hour close to its centre.

Located about 120km north of Lakeba or about 320km east-northeast of Suva at 5am yesterday, Winston was moving west at 22km an hour.

On its current track, the Fiji Meteorological office says the cyclone is expected to be located about 200km northwest of Lakeba or about 170km northeast of Suva at 5pm yesterday and about 350km west –northwest of Lakeba or about 100km north-northwest of Suva at 5am this morning.

“Destructive winds may begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes over head or nearby,” the forecaster says.

“For those living in Vanuabalavu, Yacata, Mago, Cicia, Tuvuca, Nayau, Koro, Gau,Vanuavatu, Taveuni, Qamea, Laucala, Ovalau, Wakaya and Southern half of Vanua Levu,expect very destructive hurricane force winds with average speed of 220kph and momentary gust to 315kph. Periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms,damaging heavy swells and flooding including sea flooding of low-lying areas.”

“For Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Namuka, Ogea, Moala, rest of Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands, Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, expect destructive storm force winds with average speed of 110km an hour and momentary gust to 155km an hour, periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, damaging heavy swells and flooding including sea flooding of low-lying areas.

“As for the rest of Fiji, expect damaging gale force winds with average speed of 85km an hour with momentary gust to 120km an hour, periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, damaging heavy swells and flooding including sea flooding of low lying areas.

“For the mariners, expect winds of hurricane force and phenomenal seas within 30 nautical miles of centre. Storm force winds and very high seas out to about 60 nautical miles from centre, gale force winds and high seas out to about 160 nautical miles of centre,” the forecaster says.