![Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 65 issued 7:39am Friday 17 December 2020. [image: Fiji Met]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/11433502855fdbeaf6d4b5623926c7.jpg)
The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is located about 40 kilometres West of Lakeba and has been downgraded to a Category 3 Cyclone.
Close to its centre the TC Yasa currently has winds upto 155 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 220 kilometres per hour.
A hurricane warning remains in force for Yacata, Cicia, Nayau, Vanuabalavu, Lakeba, Oneata, Vanuavatu, Moce, Kabara, Namuka-i-Lau, Ogea, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau.
A storm warning remains in force for Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Koro Island.
A gale warning remains in force for the Eastern half of Viti Levu, Matuku, Moala and Totoya, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali.
The cyclone is moving South East at about 30 kilometres per hour.
The Nadi Weather Office says the cyclone is expected to exit Fiji waters as early as tomorrow morning as a Category 2 Cyclone.
A strong wind warning is in force for the rest of the Fiji group.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for Southern coast of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the interior and Eastern parts of Viti Levu, Southern parts of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A flood warning remains in force for major rivers of Vanua Levu, for low lying areas and areas adjacent to Vatukacevaceva and downstream of Rakiraki Town and Korovou, Waimanu, Waidina, Qawa, Bagata, Dreketi, Lekutu and Lagalaga rivers.
A flash flood warning remains in force for the low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams of Vanua Levu and low lying areas of Eastern half of Viti Levu.
The cyclone gained speed yesterday and the centre made landfall late yesterday afternoon over Bua Province instead of the projected 8pm timeline by the Nadi Weather Office. This was based on the system moving faster than expected however it was already highlighted that hurricane force winds were expected before the centre passes.
TC Yasa also spent almost the whole night slowly moving over Vanua Levu.
It also took a more south easterly direction and did not take the projected path which has also spared Eastern Viti Levu including Suva and Nausori areas that were earlier under hurricane warning.
Many houses in Vanua Levu have been destroyed, some families had to shelter in corners of houses, under beds and tables and some even had to shelter in cane plantations as Cyclone Yasa wreaked havoc in many parts of the Northern Division overnight.
The National Disaster Management Office confirms emergency personnel can only go out when it is safe to do so.
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