Cyclone Wilma expected to develop into a hurricane

The Nadi Weather office has confirmed that Tropical Cyclone Wilma is expected to develop into a hurricane by midday today.

Tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Moala and the Lau group and Tropical Cyclone Forecaster, Terry Atalifo said they still expect the cyclone to move over Tonga by tomorrow morning.

At 3am today Tropical Cyclone Wilma was located near 18.0 South 172.4 west or about 680km East of Lakeba.

The cyclone is moving Southwest at 27km per hour.

On this forecast track, the cyclone may bring damaging gale force winds over Southern Lau group later today.

By this afternoon, South to South East Winds 37km per hour are expected increasing to 65 km per hour for Southern Lau.

Flooding of low lying coastal areas is expected from later today.

Atalifo said early tomorrow the cyclone will be around 395km south east of Lakeba.

For the rest of the Fiji group wind speed is expected to intensify later today as flooding of low lying areas is also expected.