The Nadi Weather Office has confirmed this hour that the Tropical Depression which is currently located to the South of Samoa and far East of Fiji, has now developed into a cyclone and continues to head towards Fiji.
Based on current analysis after the assessment of the models by the Weather Office, Tropical Cyclone Ella will affect Fiji from late tomorrow to Thursday and Friday.
Weather Office Forecaster Stephen Meke says Cyclone Ella is currently located 710 kilometres East North East of Vanuabalavu and about 1,000 kilometres East North East of Suva.
Meke says based on their assessment, the people of the country need to prepare for the possibility of a category 2 or 3 cyclone to come towards Fiji by late Thursday or Friday.
He says Cyclone Ella is expected to come with a lot of heavy rain and destructive winds.
If it does happen then it is expected to affect many parts of the country.
Meke says people should prepare for the worst and it would be good news if Cyclone Ella changes its track.
However he says the models are suggesting that it will intensify and head towards the Fiji group.
A category 2 cyclone can cause significant damage to signs and trees, and heavy damage to some crops. There can be a risk of power failure. Small craft may break moorings.
A category 2 cyclone's strongest winds are destructive winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 125 to 164 kilometres per hour.
A category 3 cyclone can cause roof and structural damage.
Power failures are likely.
A category 3 cyclone's strongest winds are very destructive winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 165 to 224 kilometres per hour.
The Weather Office is continuing to monitor Cyclone Ella.
Stay with us for developments on whether it will affect us directly.
