Fiji

Locals say winds are strong and picking up by the minute.

Fiji is about three hours away from the big hit of the category 5 tropical cyclone Winston.

Air Niugini has cancelled it's Nadi flights from today.

Sea swells are reported on the coast and unofficial reports say the Eastern Islands who are getting the full brunt of the cyclone are now cut off from the rest of the country.

Among the frightened residents are Papua New Guineans, Ore Toua and Joey Tau.

Papua New Guinean, Joey Tau told LOOP PNG an email was sent out this week by the PNG High Commission office in Suva to all PNG nationals.

Tau has stocked up on water, canned food, batteries and biscuits and says his house is secured at the moment.

A short while ago he told LOOP the winds have started and is now causing significant damage in the capital, Suva.

Residents have been told not to drive at this time and to a observe a curfew as that country braces for the full brunt of Winston.

"It's scary. It sounds like a jet engine from where I am," he said. 

Tropical Cyclone Winston has begun its assault on Fiji. It is being described as one of the most powerful in recorded history - a Category 5 cyclone with winds approaching 300 kilometres an hour. As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We must stick together as a people and look after each other. Be alert and be prepared.

People in Fiji have been urged to secure their properties and stock up on supplies as the cyclone approaches. Here is a list of essential information provided by government agencies.

Cyclone Warnings:

The Fiji Meteorological Service is currently issuing cyclone warnings every two hours. People are advised to listen to the radio for the latest warning information about a powerful, yet erratic, cyclone that has frequently changed course.

Right now, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is being briefed on the situation and Fiji’s preparedness and shelter for its citizens.

Veteran journalist and PACNEWS Manager, Makareta Komai told LOOP PNG this morning the country is lock down mode as the Government through the National Disaster Management Council urges people to secure their homes as TC Winston enters its waters.

“Flights and shipping services have been suspended. Fiji Airways has cancelled all its flights until the weather clears,’’ Komai said.

It says the category five cyclone has average winds of 220 kilometres an hour and momentary gusts of 315 kilometres an hour.

The cyclone is moving west at about 22 kilometres an hour.

A tropical cyclone forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service, Misaeli Funaki, said "On its track it went really close to Vanuabalavu at 7am local time, an island in the Lau group, and the weather observation centre recorded winds of 185 kph."

He said they are yet to receive reports of damages on the ground

The Department of Information said people must closely monitor weather reports in response to the movement of tropical cyclone Winston.

Latest weather reports indicate that Winston is moving close to the Fiji Group and is expected to affect parts of the central division including Kadavu and Suva.

Both the Nadi Weather Office and disaster officials are closely tracking the movement of the cyclone.

While the cyclone is a Category 4, the momentum of its movement has the potential to later develop into a Category 5.

The cyclone was downgraded to a category two on Monday afternoon as it moved towards Fiji's southern Lau group, but Misaeli Funaki, a forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service, said the storm still had damaging winds as high as 155 kilometres an hour.

In the first week of January Cyclone Ula crossed the Lau group causing minor damage.

The Director of Meteorology said Cyclone Winston, lying to the south, was expected to turn towards Fiji waters after initially tracking southeast away from Vanuatu.

Ravind Kumar said within a couple of days the outer islands in Lau should feel the brunt of Cyclone Winston, which was packing winds gusting up to 220 kilometres an hour.

Cyclone Winston is moving in a south south-easterly direction and does not pose any threats to islands in the region at this point.

Winds close to its centre are expected to increase to over 110 kilometres an hour later today.

It is forecast to intensify as it moves further south south-east between Vanuatu and Fiji at nine kilometres per hour.

The system has brought heavy rain to Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, with a flood warning in place for the Rakiraki area.