Overall Red alert Tropical Cyclone for YASA-20
in Fiji,

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone YASA-20 can have a high humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000752
Name YASA-20
Glide number: TC-2020-000238-FJI
From - To 12 Dec - 20 Dec
Exposed countries Fiji,
Exposed population 160 thousand in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 259 km/h Category 5
Maximum storm surge 1.3 m (17 Dec 09:00 UTC)
Vulnerability Medium (Fiji)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS JTWC 93 km/h 1.2 m n.a. 0.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 266 km/h 2.4 m 1990 mm 2.5
GFS 281 km/h 1.3 m 829 mm 2.5
ECMWF 180 km/h 1.1 m 940 mm 0.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Vanuatu, Fiji - Tropical Cyclone YASA (ECHO 14 Dec 2020)Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:00

  • The newly formed Tropical Cyclone YASA is moving in the South Pacific Ocean, between Vanuatu and Fiji Islands. On 14 December at 0.00, its center was located approximately 400 km east of Pentecost island (Vanuatu), and 550 km north-west of Yasawa Islands (Fiji), with maximum sustained wind of 110 km/h.
  • On 14-16 December, YASA is forecast to strengthen, as it moves clockwise between Vanuatu and Fiji islands. Then it is expected to move south-east, reaching Viti Levu island (Fiji) on 18 December, with maximum sustained wind between 170-200 km/h.
  • A strong wind warning has been issued for Rotuma island (northern Fiji), and for the central and southern coastal Vanuatu. A flash flood warning is in effect for northern Vanua Levu (Fiji).
  • Heavy rainfall, strong wind and high waves are forecast throughout Vanuatu on 14-15 December. Moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast over most of Fiji from 15 December. 
Vanuatu, Fiji - Tropical Cyclone YASA update (ECHO 15 Dec 2020)Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:12

  • Tropical cyclone YASA is strengthening as it continues clockwise in the South Pacific Ocean, between Vanuatu and Fiji Islands. On 15 December at 0.00, its centre was located approximately 450 km east of Maewo Island (Vanuatu) and 580 km north-west of Yasawa Islands (Fiji), with maximum sustained wind of 157 km/h.
  • YASA is forecast to move south-east, passing between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu Islands (Fiji) on 17 December, with maximum sustained wind up to 215 km/h. After that, it will cross the Eastern Division islands on 18 December.
  • Heavy rain and strong wind warnings are in effect for Yasawa and Mamanuca group, eastern Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and are are forecast over most of Fiji and Vanuatu.  
  • The situation is being monitored in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union and with the partners present in the field.
Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone YASA-20 (ECHO 16 Dec 2020)Wed, 16 Dec 2020 10:24

  • Tropical cyclone YASA-20 is moving east-southeast over the South Pacific Ocean and on 16 December its centre was located approximately 525 km north-west of Labasa Town (Vanua Levu Island, Fiji), with maximum sustained wind of 259 km/h.
  • Tropical cyclone YASA-20 is forecast to move south-east, approaching Vanua Levu Island on the morning of 17 December, with maximum sustained wind up to 220-230 km/h. After that, it will move southward, crossing the Eastern Division Islands on 17-18 December and passing 415 km east of Tongatapu Island (Tonga) on 19 December.
  • According to media reports, the authorities set-up 1,037 evacuation centres across Central, Northern and Western Divisions.    
  • Heavy rain, storm, gale and storm surge warnings have been issued for most of Fiji. Strong wind warnings are in effect for most of Vanuatu and for Tongatapu and 'Eua Islands (Tonga).
Fiji - Tropical Cyclone YASA update (ECHO 17 Dec 2020)Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:00

  • On 17 December, tropical cyclone YASA reached the western coast of Vanua Levu Island, with maximum sustained wind up to 240 km/h. After passing over Vanua Levu, YASA is expected to weaken as it moves south-east over the Koro Sea, passing close to Lomaiviti Archipelago.
  • National authorities have declared a state of natural disaster and a nationwide curfew is in effect until 18 December. All major roads have been flooded in Vanua Levu, northern Viti Levu and other islands in the Northern Division and a landslide was reported in Tailevu Province (western Viti Levu).
  • A hurricane warning has been issued for Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and most of the islands in the Northern, Central and Western Division and a storm warning is in effect for Mamanuca Group and Lau Islands.
  • Strong wind warning remains in force dor Rotuma and Kadavu islands and storm surge and high waves warnings are in effect for coastal waters in Rotuma, Viti Levu, Vanua Levy and nearby smaller islands. Heavy rain warning remains in force for all the islands of Fiji.
YASA-20 - Copernicus EMS activation (EMSR489)Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:39

EMSR489: Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated
Fiji, Tonga - Tropical Cyclone YASA update (ECHO 18 Dec 2020)Fri, 18 Dec 2020 02:00

  • After passing over Vanua Levu (Fiji), tropical cyclone YASA has weakened and is moving south-east over Koro Sea. On 18 December, its center was located approximately 10 km south-west of Lakemba Island (Lau Group).
  • According to initial reports, at least two people died and 23,479 people sought shelter in 457 evacuation centres across Fiji. Extensive damage due to flooding, strong wind, storm surge and landslides has been reported in Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.
  • In Fiji, a hurricane warning remains in force for Eastern Division, flood warnings for the low lying areas of the country and a strong wind warning for most of the country. Heavy rainfall, storm surge and high wave warnings have been issued for the southern coast of Vanua Levu, eastern Viti Levu, Taveuni, Lomaiviti, and Lau Group.
  • In Tonga, a hurricane warning is in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua and a storm warning has been issued for Ha’apai Group (southern Tonga). Strong wind, heavy rainfall and high waves are forecast over most of Tonga.
Fiji - Tropical Cyclone YASA update (ECHO 21 Dec 2020)Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:40

  • The passage of tropical cyclone YASA over Fiji on 17-18 December (particularly over Vanua Levu Island on 17 December) caused heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge, triggering floods and landslides that have resulted in casualties and severe damage.  
  • Media report, as of 21 December, at least 4 fatalities, one person missing, more than 23,000 evacuated people across 183 evacuation centres and entire villages severely damaged. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), YASA is likely to have affected most of the population of Fiji (more than 880,000 people).
  • The Copernicus EMS was activated in rapid mapping mode (EMSR 489) on 17 December, in order to support damage assessment.
  • Over the next 24 hours, moderate rainfall is forecast over the whole Fiji.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Aussie sailors miss out on Christmas to give aid to Fijians devastated.. 12/23/2020 3:38:00 PM.

Torrential rain and gusts up to 345km/h hit the archipelago, which was already ravaged by Tropical Cyclone Harold in April. The homes of thousands of Fijians, along with schools and other infrastructure were damaged or destroyed. Defence Mi
...(more)
Australia sends aid to cyclone-hit Fiji 12/23/2020 10:34:00 AM.

Australian sailors will embark on a Christmas eve humanitarian mission to help thousands of people in cyclone-struck Fiji. HMAS Adelaide will leave Brisbane on Thursday as the federal government provides $4.5 million to help the island neig
...(more)
Australia sends aid to cyclone-hit Fiji 12/23/2020 10:24:00 AM.

Australian sailors will embark on a Christmas eve humanitarian mission to help thousands of people in cyclone-struck Fiji. HMAS Adelaide will leave Brisbane on Thursday as the federal government provides $4.5 million to help the island neig
...(more)
Australia sends aid to cyclone-hit Fiji 12/23/2020 10:13:00 AM.

Australian sailors will embark on a Christmas eve humanitarian mission to help thousands of people in cyclone-struck Fiji. HMAS Adelaide will leave Brisbane on Thursday as the federal government provides $4.5 million to help the island neig
...(more)

View more news

Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: UNOSAT (1), EMSR (2), EC-JRC (38), (2), WMO (1), INFORM (2),