Tropical disturbance TD03F has intensified further into a depression at midday today.

At midday today, tropical depression TD03F centre was located about 470 kilometres west-southwest of Viwa and 515 kilometres west of Nadi. The depression is currently slow moving.

TD03F is expected to move towards the east-southeast at about 10 kilometres per hour and the centre should pass about 260 kilometres west-southwest of Viwa at midday tomorrow.

TD03F is likely to intensify further into a category 1 tropical cyclone by tomorrow. Damaging winds are likely to begin a few hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby.

For Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, northern and western parts of Viti Levu, western and interior parts of Viti Levu, Kadavu, western and northwestern parts of Vanua Levu, expect strong winds increasing to damaging gale force winds from later tomorrow.

For the rest of the Fiji Group, expect strong winds from tomorrow.

Winds of these strength can:

• Cause significant damage to houses of very light materials or unshielded structures with blown roof in exposed communities.
• Damage power lines and disrupt communication networks
•  Damage plants and crops
•  Break twigs of small trees
•  Cause disruption to travel/transport

As it tracks close to the group, active rain bands from TD03F is expected to bring continuous heavy rain and thunderstorms over Fiji especially over Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, northern and western parts of Viti Levu, western and interior parts of Viti Levu, Kadavu, western and northwestern parts of Vanua Levu.

With persistent northwesterly winds and soil already saturated from rainfall in the last couple of days, there is high risk of landslides and flooding of rivers, streams and creeks, flood prone and low lying areas.

There’s risk of lightning strikes during thunderstorms.

Motorists are also warned of poor visibility on roads in areas of heavy rain.

From tomorrow, very rough seas with significant wave heights of about four (4) to five (5) metres is expected over northern Vanua Levu Waters, Yasawa and Mamanuca Waters, Southwest Viti Levu Waters and Vatu-i-Ra and Kadavu Passages.

People living along the coastal areas especially in the Western Division, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group are advised of possible coastal inundation especially during high tides.

Sea conditions will be extremely dangerous for sea travel especially for small crafts and not suitable for coastal activities.
The Fiji Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this weather event and issue warnings and forecasts accordingly.