As quickly as Tropical Cyclone Zena arrived, it has dissipated dramatically.

According to the latest data it would be difficult to even sustain as a category 1 cyclone.

Na Draki weather forecaster Neville Koop said the most significant impacts associated with TC Zena had already passed the west and occurred along the south coast of Viti Levu.

Squally winds, likely no more than 90kmph in gusts, were experienced around Suva and Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, but were not dangerous.

“Weather will improve in the  morning as the system moves east over Lau. Little if any effects will be experienced about the north of the country other than some squally northwest to westerly winds,” Koop said.

“We have prepared well for the risks presented to us earlier in the day. Fortunately mother nature has been kind to us and the extremely hazardous weather anticipated has failed to materialise.

“We can still expect some very strong northwest to westerly wind squalls over coming hours with a few heavy passing showers but nothing like the weather conditions that were expected.

Weather clears
“With the cyclone, or what is left of it, moving so quickly, weather will be largely clear from the western and central divisions.

“Flood waters will take some time to recede over the west, however with no more heavy rain falling and nothing further of any significance expected, river levels will start to drop quickly after sunrise about the west.”

Fiji Broadcasting News reported that a nationwide curfew, in place since 6pm last night, had been lifted.

Matilda Simmons is a Fiji Times reporter.

• Cyclone Zena threatens children, families in Fiji
  

Fiji’s Neville Koop, managing director and meteorologist at Na Draki Weather, believes scientists must do a better job communicating with the public in preparation for future severe weather events in the Pacific.

Scientists should also explain how forecasting and warning systems work so people gain scientific literacy.

“If you cannot explain to people something by coming down to their level, you might as well not say anything,” he says.

The main concerns people have is whether they will lose crops, if it is safe to drive and what are the risks to life and property.

Koop believes that it is essential that people understand the limitations of forecasting which relies on modeling cyclone behavior based on past storms.

However, cyclone Winston was “all over the place” defying past models and making it hard to give warnings with absolute certainty.

Koop believes a failure to grasp the scientific principle of uncertainty and a lack of faith in science has very dangerous potential for future weather events.

Rumours swirling
Shortly after cyclone Winston rumours were swirling on social media about it being a geo engineered man-made event.

Koop was appalled at this idea: “That’s dangerous and particularly insidious when people put this stuff out, right when people are most vulnerable because one of the things very noticeable after the Cyclone Winston was the very high level of post-traumatic stress.”

Koop was less diplomatic in an impassioned public post on Nadraki’s newsfeed calling such misinformation “a litany of lies” and “outright bullsh*t” which is “morally abhorrent”.

He says the key challenge for scientists and governments as they respond to climate change is to create policy based on the best available science while communicating to the public in a way that relates to their daily lives.

Monica Aguilar and Shivika Mala are student journalists at the University of the South Pacific.

• Na Draki – weather “for your peace of mind”