![Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 63 issued 9:28PM Thursday 17 December 2020[Image: Fiji Meteorological Service]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/235373465fdb3f819115ab0d981ed8.jpg)
The Nadi Weather Office says the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is expected to exit Vanua Levu this hour however the hurricane-force winds will continue as the rest of the system continues to track out of the Northern Division.
The centre is currently just over Savusavu.
It is located about 50 kilometres South West of Labasa or about 65 kilometres North North West of Koro Island.
Yasa is wreaking havoc over Vanua Levu as many houses have been destroyed, some families are sheltering in corners of houses, under beds and tables and some are even sheltering in cane plantations.
The National Disaster Management Office confirms emergency personnel can only go out when it is safe as destructive winds continue in Vanua Levu.
At about 11pm tonight, the centre is expected to be located about 25 kilometres West North West of Koro or about 130 kilometres North East of Suva.
The cyclone forecasters say for Suva and Nausori areas – the warning has been downgraded from destructive hurricane force winds to damaging storm force winds for now as the centre of the cyclone has taken a more south easterly direction and will now go over Koro Sea onto Southern Lau.
At 11am tomorrow, the centre of TC Yasa is expected to be about 80 kilometres East of Moala or about 230 kilometres East of Suva.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 240 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 345 kilometres per hour. The cyclone continues to move South East at about 18 kilometres per hour.
Destructive winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
Widespread heavy rain poses the risk of river flooding and flash flooding of low lying and flood prone areas. With the ground already saturated, there is also risk of landslides in landslide prone areas.
Expect extremely rough seas having a significant wave height of 14 metres or more and damaging heavy swells. Storm surge with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas expected during high tides, with storm surge heights up to 3 metres expected along the coast when the cyclone centre passes nearby.
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