As the Tropical Depression tracks closer to Fiji, rain bands have started to affect Rotuma and damaging gale force winds are expected to affect Rotuma in the next few hours.
Forecasters at the Fiji Meteorological Service say heavy rain and damaging gale force winds will start to affect Yasawa Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Northern Viti Levu from Ba, Rakiraki to Tailevu North from early tomorrow morning.
Heavy rainfall and damaging gale force winds are expected to affect Lau and Lomaiviti Groups from mid-morning tomorrow.
Rotuma experienced 64mm of rainfall between 2pm and 3pm today.
TDO3F Forecast Track Map as of 2:29pm 31st-Dec-2018 [Photo: met.gov.fj]
The Tropical Depression was located about 170km West of Rotuma and about 640km north-northwest of Nadi at 6pm today.
The Tropical Depression may intensify into a category 1 Tropical Cyclone in the next 12 to 18 hours with average winds of 65km/hr and momentary gusts up to 90km/hr close to the centre.
The Tropical Depression is moving southeast at about 20km/hr.
On the projected path, the Centre of the Tropical Depression is expected to be located about 190km northeast of yasawa-i-rara or about 150km north northwest of Labasa at 6am tomorrow.
A gale warning remains in force for Rotuma, Yasawa Group and Northern Viti Levu.
A Tropical Cyclone alert remains in force for Lau and Lomaiviti Group.
A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller Islands, Yasawa, Mamanuca, Lau and Lomaiviti Groups.
A flood alert remains in force for low lying areas and areas adjacent to major rivers of Vanua levu and Rewa to Navua catchments.
