20 Feb 2016 (afternoon update)
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston is now the strongest category 5 tropical cyclone to make landfall over Fiji.
By MetService meteorologist Emma Blades
All times are in New Zealand local time.
Today
Tropical Cyclone Winston was upgraded to a category five cyclone last night. This morning the centre tracked near to the Fiji Island of Vanua Balavu, where average wind speeds of 185km/h were recorded. Wind speeds even closer to the centre of the cyclone are estimated to average 220km/h, with momentary gusts likely to reach 315km/h.
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image (indicating cold cloud top temperatures) showing the location of TC Winston at 8.50am Friday 19th February 2016. Note the circle in centre of the TC showing clearly the eye of the TC.
History
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image (indicating cold cloud top temperatures) showing the location of TC Winston at 3.50pm Thursday 18th February 2016.Note the circle in centre of the TC showing clearly the eye of the storm.
History
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image (indicating cold cloud top temperatures) showing the location of TC Winston at 12.40pm Wednesday 17th February 2016.
History
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time.
Historical track (white) and forecast track (red) of TC Winston up to midnight on Wednesday. Image created by MetService on WeatherScape.
History
By MetService Meteorologist Emma Blades
The centre of the severe Tropical Cyclone Winston was located about 360 km south-southwest of Ono-I-Lau or about 505 km south-southeast of Kaduva at 9 am today (Monday 15 February 2016). The cyclone is moving east-northeast at about 24 km/hr. Winds close to its centre are estimated to be around 120 km/hr, with gusts up to 170 km/hr.
By MetService Meteorologist Ciaran Doolin
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time
History
Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston was named by RSMC Nadi at 1pm on February 11th, located to the east of Vanuatu. Since then, TC Winston has tracked south-southeast.
Meanwhile Tropical Cyclone Tatiana was named by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on February 11th at 7pm, since then TC Tatiana has been moving south-southeast and was reclassifed as Tropical Low at 7am this morning (Sunday 14th February).
By MetService Meteorologist Ciaran Doolin
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time
History
Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston was named by RSMC Nadi at 1pm on February 11th, located to the east of Vanuatu. Since then, TC Winston has tracked south-southeast.
Meanwhile Tropical Cyclone Tatiana was named by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on February 11th at 7pm, since then TC Tatiana has been moving southeast.
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed below are New Zealand local time. Updated 3.10pm 12/02/2016
History
Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston was named by RSMC Nadi at 1pm on February 11th, located to the east of Vanuatu. Since then, TC Winston has tracked southeast.
Meanwhile Tropical Cyclone Tatiana was named by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on February 11th at 7pm, since then TC Tatiana has been moving east.