TC Harold expected to bring more rain in the next few days

Expect more rain in the next few days if you live in Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Yasawa, Mamanuca Group and Southern Lau.

The rain we are currently experiencing is being brought by a trough of low pressure but the Nadi Weather Office says there will be more rain from tomorrow because of Tropical Cyclone Harold which is expected to directly hit Vanuatu as a Category 5 system.

Please take necessary precautions as heavy rain may lead to flash flooding in low lying areas.

The Weather Office says the Fiji group will start to experience heavy rain associated with Cyclone Harold on Tuesday.

It says the main concern for most parts of Fiji will be heavy rain and the risk of flash flooding is also expected to be elevated.

The Weather Office says based on its current track, Tropical Cyclone Harold is expected to bring damaging gale force winds for Kadavu and the Southern Lau group from Wednesday morning.

These damaging gale force winds can do a lot of damage to plantations and shallow-rooted trees can be uprooted. Well-built houses are less likely to be damaged.

The western part of Viti Levu can also experience some strong winds from Wednesday morning but this is based on the current projected track.

The Nadi Weather Office says the system is expected to weaken as it moves closer to Fiji and they expect the centre to still be over open waters.

It says because the centre is going to be in open waters therefore only the gale-force winds and not hurricane-force winds are projected to affect Kadavu and Southern Lau.

Please note that as the system moves closer, the Nadi Weather Office will then give updates on which islands in the Fiji group will feel the associated weather from the system.

Category 4 Cyclone Harold is moving southeast at about 8 kilometres per hour and it is expected to pass over Northern and Central Vanuatu today.

Earlier today, Category 4 Cyclone Harold was located 980 kilometres Northwest of Port Vila - the capital of Vanuatu. Cyclone Harold is located about 1500 metres from West-Northwest of Nadi.