Special Weather Bulletin Number 27 ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 3:13am on Thursday the 16th of November 2023 TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING Location: 22.6S 179.0E, 320km Southwest of Ono-i-Lau or 410km South-southeast of Kadavu. Status: Tropical Cyclone Mal Strength: Category 2 Maximum Winds: 50 knots [95km/hr], gusting to 70 knots [130km/hr]. This system may decrease to 40 knots [75km/hr], gusting to 55 knots [100km/hr] by 6am today. Central Pressure: 988 Hpa. Movement: South-Southeast at 28km/hr. Time of observation or analysis: 12am [FST] FORECAST POSITION: * 12hr or 12pm on Thursday : 24.8S 179.4E or 465km South of Ono-i-Lau or 635km South of Matuku [Confidence: High] * 24hr or 12am on Friday : 26.8S 177.4E and expected to weaken into a Low. [Confidence: High] LIST OF ALL ACTIVE ALERTS OR WARNINGS THE GALE FORCE WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR ONO-I-LAU IS NOW CANCELLED. A STRONG WIND IS IN FORCE FOR VATULELE, KADAVU AND NEABY SMALLER ISLANDS, TOTOYA, MATUKU, MOALA, VATOA, ONO-I-LAU AND IS NOW CANCELLED FOR MAMANUCA GROUP, SOUTHWESTERN VITI LEVU [MOMI TO SIGATOKA TO NAMATAKULA] AND LOMAIVITI GROUP. THE HEAVY RAIN WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE FOR THE GREATER NADI- AREA, BA-LAUTOKA AREA, INTERIOR BA, SIGATOKA-KOROLEVU, COASTAL AND INTERIOR OF NADROGA-NAVOSA, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS IS NOW CANCELLED. SITUATION: A WEAK TROUGH OF OF LOW PRESSURE WITH ASSOCIATED CLOUD AND SHOWERS LIES SLOW MOVING OVER THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE GROUP. FORECAST: VATULELE, KADAVU AND NEABY SMALLER ISLANDS, TOTOYA, MATUKU, MOALA, VATOA, ONO-I-LAU: EXPECT STRONG WEST TO NORTHERLY WINDS WITH SPEEDS OF UP TO 45 KM/HR WITH GUSTS TO 80 KM/HR. WINDS EASING TO MODERATE TO FRESH FROM TODAY. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS, HEAVY AT TIMES AND FEW THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS EASING LATER TODAY. ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS BECOMING MODERATE TO ROUGH FROM TODAY. FOR THE REST OF THE FIJI GROUP MODERATE TO FRESH WEST TO NORTHERLY WINDS. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST PLACES. SHOWERS EASING LATER TODAY. MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS. POSSIBLE IMPACTS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN: - LOCALISED FLOODING OF SUSCEPTIBLE COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS AND LOW LYING AREAS. - POOR VISIBILITY AT LAND AND SEA WITH INCREASED RISK OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO SLIPPERY ROADS. POSSIBLE IMPACTS DUE TO EXPECTED TROPICAL CYCLONE : - SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOUSES OF VERY LIGHT MATERIALS AND OLD GALVANIZED IRON ROOFS BLOWN OFF - RISK OF DISRUPTION IN COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND POWER SUPPLY DUE TO DAMAGED POWER LINES - MOST PLANTS AND CROPS ARE DAMAGED AND DOWNED - FEW SMALL TREES ARE BROKEN AND BLOCKING ROADS WITH MAJOR DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC FLOW - LOCALISED DISRUPTION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES - HIGH RISK OF SEA TRAVEL FOR ALL TYPES OF SEA CRAFTS - DAMAGING DUE TO SEVERE COASTAL INUNDATION OF DEBRIS ALONG LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS ESPECIALLY DURING HIGH TIDES. The following information is provided especially for the mariners: A GALE WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR SOUTHERN ONO-I-LAU WATERS. A STRONG WIND WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI WATERS. EXPECT STORM FORCE WINS UPTO 63 KNOTS WITH VERY HIGH SEAS AND HEAVY SWELLS TO ABOUT 60 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE. GALE FORCE WINDS UPTO 47 KNOTS AND HIGH SEAS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS WITHIN 150 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE. STRONG WINDS 20 TO 30 KNOTS ELSEWHERE WITH ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH SEAS. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN FOR FIJI AND THE NEXT ISSUE WILL BE THE SPECIAL MARINE BULLETIN AT 03:00 AM AND THE ROUTINE BULLETIN AT 05:30AM TODAY.