Hurricane Keni - status, notification, support

[BoomBrake]

Just an observation, updates. Feel free to join in if you want to send updates, or reach out.

Was checking Denarau Yacht Club yesterday, most vessels safely secured to the dock. One closest to Rhumba clubhouse was noticeably listing 5 inches to aft with possibly few inches in bilge, open anchor hatch.

Observed another beautiful Yacht SV Regina MMSI:*503571300 Call Sign:*VMQ6900 of Australia, very safely secured with 16 plus lines.

My wife and 3 y.o. daughter are currently holidaying in Denarau, comfortably located onshore (not sailing); with Hurricane #Keni now upgraded Category 3, now at 970 hPA. Hitting about 60km South of us, puts us right in destructive wind, hurricane force in dangerous quadrant in next 4+ hours.

Localised extract from Special Weather Bulletin Number EIGHTEEN for Fiji ON SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI:

---. ---. ---. ---
"ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 8:55am on Tuesday the 10th of April 2018

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING
A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA
GROUP, BEQA, VATULELE, TOTOYA, MATUKU, LOMAIVITI AND SOUTHERN LAU GROUP, KADAVU
AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS [MATANUKU, ONO AND GALOA] AND IS NOW IN FORCE FOR THE
REST OF FIJI.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR SOUTHWEST VITI LEVU, FROM LAUTOKA
THROUGH
SIGATOKA TO NAVUA, MAMANUCA GROUP, VATULELE, BEQA, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER
ISLANDS , MOALA, TOTOYA, MATUKU AND ONO-I-LAU.

SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI CENTRE 970HPA CATEGORY 3 WAS LOCATED NEAR 17.8
SOUTH 175.8 EAST OR ABOUT 175 KILOMETRES WEST OF NADI AND 140 KILOMETRES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF VIWA AT 8:00 AM. POSITION POOR. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 130 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS
TO 185 KM/HR. TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI IS CURRENTLY MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 20
KM/HR. THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TRACK EAST-SOUTHEASTWARDS AND POSSIBLY
MAKE LAND FALL JUST OVER SOUTHWEST VITI LEVU AT MIDDAY TODAY. MEANWHILE, RAIN
BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE GROUP.

ON THIS TRACK, TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED ABOUT 67
KM SOUTH OF NADI OR ABOUT 105 KM NORTHWEST OF KADAVU AT 2 PM TODAY AND ABOUT 51 KM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF MATUKU OR ABOUT 250KM NORTHWEST OF ONO-I-LAU AT 8PM TODAY.

FOR SOUTHWEST VITI LEVU, FROM LAUTOKA THROUGH SIGATOKA TO NAVUA, MAMANUCA GROUP,
VATULELE, BEQA, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS , MOALA, TOTOYA, MATUKU AND ONO-I-LAU:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEED OF 130KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 185KM/HR . PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
FLOODING, INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS WITH STORM SURGE OF MORE THAN 3 METERS COULD BE EXPECTED OVER COASTAL AREAS.

The following information is provided especially for the mariners:
HURRICANE WARNING .
TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI CENTRE 970HPA CATEGORY 3 WAS LOCATED NEAR 17.8 SOUTH 175.4
EAST AT 091800 UTC. POSITION POOR. REPEAT POSITION 17.8S 175.4E AT 091800 UTC.
CYCLONE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS.
CYCLONE INTENSIFYING.
EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 70 KNOTS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE.
EXPECT WINDS OVER 63 KNOTS WITHIN 40 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE,
OVER 47 KNOTS WITHIN 60 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE
EXPECT WINDS OVER 33 KNOTS WITHIN 180 NAUTICAL MILES IN NE QUADRANT

AND WITHIN 180 NAUTICAL MILES
IN SE QUADRANT
AND WITHIN 120 NAUTICAL MILES
IN SW QUADRANT
AND WITHIN 150 NAUTICAL MILES
IN NW QUADRANT

FORECAST POSITION NEAR 19.1S 178.9E AT 100600 UTC AND NEAR 22.3S 177.4W AT 101800 UTC.

ALL VESSELS WITHIN 300 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTS
EVERY THREE HOURS TO RSMC NADI. VOS REPORTING SHIPS USE NORMAL CHANNELS. "
---. ---. ---. ---

Not sure if you can view this:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/IkYoHl4RyAZuWsIq1

References:
Weather Maps

https://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc-bin/t...dmsp&TYPE=ssmi

[BoomBrake]

Further update, cyclonic force winds just touched down. Hurricane force of top right (dangerous) quadrant due here in Denarau in next 2 - 4 hours. kPA still at 970, however trajectory velocity of system almost doubled to 36 kmph (~20 knots). Observe current storm surge approx 0.5 metre.

Visible eye forming between Z21:00 and Z22:00.

Notable excepts from Fiji Met's latest report:

"SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI CENTRE 970HPA CATEGORY 3 WAS LOCATED NEAR 18.4SOUTH 176.7 EAST OR ABOUT 175 KILOMETRES EAST OF NADI AND 140 KILOMETRES
WEST-SOUTHWEST OF VIWA AT 10:00 am. CLOSE TO ITS CENTRE THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AVERAGE WINDS UP TO 130 KM/HR WITH MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 185 KM/HR. SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE KENI MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 36 KM/HR.

ON THIS TRACK, THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE LOCATED ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF KADAVU AT 04:00PM TODAY, AND ABOUT 110 KILOMETRES WEST OF
ONO-I-LAU, OR ABOUT 330KM SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SUVA AT 10 PM TONIGHT. IT IS THEN EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEASTWARDS AWAY FROM THE GROUP.

FOR SOUTHWEST VITI LEVU, FROM SIGATOKA TO NAVUA, GROUP, VATULELE, BEQA, KADAVU AND NEARBY SMALLER ISLANDS , MOALA, TOTOYA, MATUKU AND ONO-I-LAU:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITH AVERAGE SPEED OF 130KM/HR AND MOMENTARY GUSTS TO 185KM/HR . PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS.
FLOODING, INCLUDING SEA FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. DAMAGING HEAVY SWELLS WITH STORM SURGE OF MORE THAN 3 METERS COULD BE EXPECTED
OVER COASTAL AREAS."

[Paul L]

For those that don't know Denarau is a marina in Fiji. Surprised to hear that the boats are tied in the slips. They usually go up the river into the mangroves there to be safe. Are the mooring balls empty?

[BoomBrake]

Yes, nothing on swing moorings. A number of freighters anchored offshore, no longer visible.

[BoomBrake]

WiFi Internet down, local 3/4G base station intermittent throughput (everyone updating video/pics to social media!)

Looks like the eye, or as close to it has passed. Relatively calm period just ending, now and wind from about W-SW, though we're on lee of a point in that side so difficult to tell.

We were considerably more protected from direct N-NW to NW blast by Ackuilau Island not far offshore, which meant top right quadrant destructive hurricane force winds were somewhat disrupted from blasting directly into our top floor oceanview room. Whew!

Can see a freighter clearly again offshore, holding fast. Likely chemical tanker "Heracles" by my reckoning: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/...7tRo4jPjb0r.99

[IslandHopper]

https://www.windy.com/?-19.306,179.0...sure,m:c8Wak7w

[seaskip]

Best of luck and hold fast Boombrake. ��
All ok I hope.

[BoomBrake]

Thanks seaskip, yes we all made it out. 48 hours straight in a hotel room with a 3 year old is about as tough as it got!