3. Fiji's capital doesn't see tropical cyclones all that often
Although records don't date too far back for Fiji's tropical weather, meteorologists know it's fairly rare for a tropical cyclone to hit the country's capital city.
"According to NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks database, only 12 tropical cyclones of at least
Category 1 equivalent intensity have tracked within 100 miles of Fiji's capital and largest city, Suva, since 1972," said Erdman. "The last one to do so was Evan, just over a week before Christmas 2012."
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5. Officials fear the storm could spread disease in Tonga
Aid agencies are very worried Winston will further spread the Zika virus in the wake of the storm. According to a Reuters report, officials are concerned that the lack of mosquito control during the recovery period
will allow the mosquito population to explode, putting citizens at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
As a result, aid groups have spent extra resources spraying areas that may be impacted by a mosquito population boom, removing larvae from water tanks and distributing nets – especially to pregnant women – the report also said.
An outbreak was declared in Tonga earlier in the month after five cases of Zika were confirmed and another 259 were suspected, Reuters added.
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/cyclone-winston-impacts-preps