Cyclones Nina and Kina marked significant weather events before the emergence of Cyclone Winston. On January 1, 1993, The Fiji Times reported that Cyclone Kina was located approximately 470 kilometers northwest of Nadi and had remained stationary since the previous Tuesday. Meanwhile, Cyclone Nina, which formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria, was moving eastward towards Kina.
Rajendra Prasad, the acting director of Meteorology, expressed uncertainty about how the two cyclones would interact. He noted that while the exact effects of Cyclone Nina on Kina were indeterminate, the two could not combine, and one cyclone would eventually dominate the other. Prasad explained that although Cyclone Nina was initially less intense than Kina, it was expected to gain strength, describing the situation as “fairly complicated.”
If Cyclone Nina persisted in its eastward movement, it was anticipated that Kina would adjust its path toward the east and south. Prasad highlighted that Kina could remain slow-moving until Nina got closer and began to influence its trajectory. As of that report, Cyclone Kina was producing hurricane-force winds with sustained speeds of 75 knots and gusts reaching 110 knots. Satellite imagery indicated disorganized cloud patterns and an absent eye in Kina.
Although Fiji was under a cyclone alert, it was believed that immediate direct impacts would be minimal. Residents in western areas were preparing by securing their homes, while Blue Lagoon Cruises halted operations for safety. Nadi Airport continued to operate normally, with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji confirming that safety protocols were in place.
Resorts in the Yasawas and Mamanucas were boarding up their facilities, and tourists from offshore locations were moving to the mainland to ensure they could catch their international flights. In Lautoka, the Disaster Management Services Committee (DISMEC) held a meeting to manage the evolving situation.
It was also reported that new weather and wind radar equipment funded by Australia would not be installed until after the 1993-94 financial year. An Australian team was set to visit Nadi the following month to evaluate needs and discuss potential locations for the equipment. Additionally, plans were underway for a new weather station to be set up in Nadi.