Tropical Cyclone Evan has stopped intensifying and continues to move West South West of Fiji.
Based on this people in the Northern division are expected to start experiencing strong winds and rain from this afternoon.
Nadi Weather Office Director Alipate Waqaicelua said as at 10 this morning Tropical Cyclone Evan which is still category 4 was located at 290 kilometers northeast of Cikobia and 405 kilometers northeast of Labasa and about 610 kilometers to the North East of Suva.
Waqaicelua said the cyclone continues to move west south west at about 18 kilometers per hour and close to its center the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 165 kilometers per hour with momentary gusts to 230 km/hr.
According to Waqaicelua from later today going into tomorrow people in the Northern division are expected to start experiencing strong winds and rain.
He said it will closely approach the Yasawa group by Tuesday morning.
A gale warning remains in force for Cikobia, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Northern Lau group.
A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Viti Levu, Lomaiviti, Yasawa and Mamanuca group.
On this track the cyclone is expected to be located about 145 kilometers north of Cikobia or about 240 kilometers north-northeast of Labasa at 7pm tonight.
Destructive winds are expected to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
According to the Nadi Weather Office Cikobia, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Northern Lau group will start experiencing damaging gale forces with average speeds up to 75km/hr from this afternoon.
Rain is expected to become frequent and heavy with squall thunderstorms and people can expect flooding in low lying areas as well as sea flooding of low lying coastal areas.
For Viti Levu, Lomaiviti, Yasawa and Mamanuca group strong winds are expected from later today while increasing gale forces and heavy rain is expected from tomorrow which may lead to flooding in low lying areas.
For the rest of Fiji strong winds and rain heavy at times is expected.
In addition seas are expected to become rough to very rough with heavy swells developing.
Stay with us for continuous updates.
Story by: Filipe Naikaso
