Before the emergence of Cyclone Winston, Fiji experienced cyclones Nina and Kina. On January 1, 1993, The Fiji Times reported that Cyclone Kina was located about 470 kilometers northwest of Nadi and had been stationary since the previous Tuesday. At the same time, Cyclone Nina was moving eastward from the Gulf of Carpentaria toward Kina.
Rajendra Prasad, the acting director of Meteorology, noted uncertainty about how the two cyclones would interact. He stated that while the precise impact of Cyclone Nina on Kina was uncertain, the two systems could not merge, with one cyclone eventually overpowering the other. “Cyclone Nina is slightly less intense than Kina but is expected to strengthen,” Prasad said, describing the situation as complicated.
If Cyclone Nina maintained its eastern path, it was expected that Kina would shift between the East and South. Prasad explained that Kina might remain stationary until Nina came closer to influence its trajectory. Despite Cyclone Nina being less intense, it was anticipated to gain strength.
Kina was generating hurricane-force winds with average speeds of 75 knots and gusts reaching 110 knots. Satellite images showed disorganized cloud patterns and an undefined eye. Fiji was under a cyclone alert, though it was thought the country would not be directly impacted by Kina in the near term.
Residents in the western regions were securing their homes in preparation. Blue Lagoon Cruises halted operations for safety, while Nadi Airport continued to operate normally. The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji confirmed that safety precautions were in place. In the Yasawas and Mamanucas, resorts were boarding up, and tourists from offshore were returning to the mainland to catch flights.
In Lautoka, the Disaster Management Services Committee met to address the cyclone situation. Additionally, it was reported that new weather and wind radar systems, which Fiji hoped to acquire with Australian assistance, would not be installed until the following financial year. An Australian team was set to visit Nadi the next month to evaluate needs and possible locations for the equipment, and the government planned to establish a new weather station in Nadi.