The eye of Tropical Cyclone Mick is located just over the Monasavu area and is now moving more rapidly.
This means that Tropical Cyclone Mick will hit Navua, Suva, Tailevu and Nausori early this evening rather than late tonight.
Nadi Weather Office Director Rajendra Prasad said people living in Navua, Suva and Nausori need to be prepared for the worst in the next few hours.
Prasad said Cyclone Mick is now travelling at a faster speed compared to its low speed from earlier this morning.
Prasad said the good news in a way is that Tropical Cyclone Mick has lost some of its strength as it has hit land and we all hope that it continues to weaken.
However, Prasad said people in Navua, Suva, Tailevu and Nausori need to be prepared.
A Tropical Cyclone Storm Warning is now in force for the South East half of Viti Levu, Vatulele, Beqa, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.
A gale warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
Tropical Cyclone Mick was located near 18 decimal 0 South 177 decimal 9 East or about 55 kilometres East South East of Nadi or 60 kilometres West North West of Suva at 5pm today by radar.
Close to its centre the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of 90 to 110 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 150 kilometres per hour and winds of 65 kilometres per hour to 80 kilometres and momentary gusts to 100 kilometres per hour within 270 kilometres of the centre.
Tropical Cyclone Mick is moving towards South East at 20 kilometres per hour.
On this forecast track, the cyclone centre is expected to lie about 135 kilometres to the South South East of Suva or about 95 kilometres East South East of Kadavu at 5am tomorrow and about 310 kilometres to the South East of Suva or about 260 kilometres South East of Kadavu at 5pm tomorrow.
Destructive winds will begin a few hours before the centre passes overhead or nearby.
Feature
TC Mick passing over Monasavu
