LOW PRESSURE SYTEM WITH MODERATE TO HIGH CHANCE OF CYCLONE FORMATION
A heavy rain warning is now in force for the whole of Fiji. An active trough of low pressure affects the Fiji Group.
The trough is bringing heavy rain over the whole of Fiji with strong winds over the Northern Division and the Lau Group.
As of yesterday, there were reports of heavy downpour received from Vanua Levu with rainfall amounting to more than 100 millimeters in some areas as well as flash floods.
Rain and strong winds are expected to ease sometimes later today as the trough weakens and moves to the southeast of the Fiji Group.
These anticipated weather conditions may cause:
1. Risk of flash flooding of low lying and flood prone areas during persistent localised heavy falls.
2. Risk of lightning strikes during thunderstorms.
3. Risk of flooding of small rivers, creeks and crossings.
4. Risk of landslides with continuous rainfall over prolonged durations.
5. Poor visibility on roads in areas of heavy rain for motorists.
6. Reduced visibility at sea.
Consequently, the following warnings are currently in force;
A heavy rain warning is now in force for the whole Fiji Group.
A flash flood warning remains in force for all low lying and flood prone areas of Vanua Levu
A strong wind warning is in force for the land areas of the Northern Division and the Lau Group.
A strong wind warning is in force for Lau and northern Vanua Levu waters.
Meanwhile, a low pressure system located near Rotuma had developed into a tropical disturbance recently, numbered TD03F.
TD03F is expected to drift southwestwards towards Vanuatu where another low pressure system is located just to the east of Vanuatu.
One of these two systems will become dominant with moderate chance of becoming a tropical cyclone from Sunday and increasing to high from Monday.
As this dominant low pressure system moves closer to the southwest of Fiji, heavy rain and strong winds is expected to pick up again in the weekend and into next week, especially over the western parts of Fiji and Kadavu.