Heavy rain which battered the Western Division on Sunday will ease with the weather office downgrading the flood warning.

The Director of Meteorology Ravind Kumar said the alert was that an active trough of low pres­sure with associated cloud and rain remains was slow moving over the country which has gradu­ally started to weaken.

Periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms con­tinued in some places last night and will gradually ease to occa­sional rain and showers by later today over most places.

Expect winds up to 45kilometres an hour and gusting to 55km/hr in squally thunderstorms.

Mr Kumar said the shallow low-pressure system near Kadavu was slowly moving southwards away from the group, however the trough will continue to affect the country until later today.

A “Heavy Rain Warning” re­mains in force for whole of Fiji while a “Flood Warning” remains in force for low lying areas, small streams and areas downstream of Navolau to Nausori Town.

A “Strong Wind Warning” re­mains in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca and now in force for Vatu-i-ra Passage and Koro Sea Water.

A “Strong Wind Warning” re­mains in force for land areas and waters of Southern Lau.

All reports for flooding in certain areas throughout the Western Di­vision have been downgraded also.

“The ground is saturated and any rain will drain into rivers and streams as run-off, therefore the chances of flooding in the low-ly­ing areas still remains high,” Mr Kumar said.

“Furthermore, communities living in the flood and landslide prone areas are requested to be on alert at all times until the situa­tion improves.

“With the strong wind warning over the Southern Lau, Yasawa and Mamanuca, Vatu-i-ra Passage and Koro Sea expect northerly winds up to 20 to 25knots and gust­ing to 40knots with rough seas and moderate easterly swells. “

Edited by Percy Kean

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