UPDATED 5:57pm  —  Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston remains a monster Category 5 storm as it now moves into Fiji – and it’s breaking records.

Cyclone Winston is the first Category 5 tropical storm in history to hit Fiji & strongest storm on record for the nation.

As of this hour: Severe Category 5 — 917hPa — Moving W at 25km/h — Winds: Sustained 230km/h gusting 325 – 350km/h. Maximum waves: 12 meters (40ft)

As of 5:45pm NZT Cyclone Winston was about 130km/h NE of Suva.  The distance between Auckland and Hamilton is 125kms to give you some perspective as to just how close the centre of this storm is to populated areas.

Currently Winston has staggeringly low air pressure, at 917hPa and is still dropping  Winds are averaging 230km/h and gusting to 325 to 350km/h or even higher, according to some models.

Our partners at Wunderground have written about Cyclone Winston, saying the tropical storm is now Fiji’s strongest ever cyclone. NZ’s government forecast MetService has today backed this up.

There remains a moderate threat to New Zealand due to the nature of this storm, which is now backtracking towards us – but the focus this weekend is on Fiji and WeatherWatch.co.nz won’t have more information about Winston’s possibly impact on New Zealand until late Sunday or early Monday.

By this Tuesday or Wednesday Cyclone Winston is likely to be in a very similar position to when it was at New Zealand’s closest last Saturday.  

Back then the storm was turning north east towards Tonga – this Wednesday it may be tracking south finally, but it’s too soon to lock in whether or not New Zealand will be affected.  If today’s modelling is correct, then Winston may still impact the North Island next Friday or Saturday.  

One to monitor – and we’ll continue with our frequent updates until the threat to New Zealand has completely passed.

MAPS

RAIN RADAR (5:30pm NZT) / FIJI MET – THE EYE OF WINSTON NOW VERY CLEARLY SEEN 130kms NE of SUVA

Tracking via our new partners at WUNDERGROUND

CLOSE UP OF FIJI WITH TRACKING PLUS INFRARED SAT MAP…FIJI UNDER THE RED SHADING TO THE SW OF THE EYE

NEXT 5 DAYS – the final position (this coming Wednesday) places Winston back where he was last Sunday / WUNDERGROUND

CURRENT MAP (4pm hour) — Wind map shows a very disturbing set up – the purple/grey shading in the middle indicates winds SUSTAINED at over 275km/h and gusting over 300km/h.  Incredibly destructive.

Current Water Vapour map / MTSAT

Colourised Sat Map / NOAA

CURRENT (4pm hour) Rain map from today / Weathermap.co.nz

Current Track Map from FIJI MET

Latest Tracking Map (and historical track) for Winston / JTWC

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