Tropical depression

This has resulted to a lot of areas being flooded such as the entrance to nearby villages namely Lavusa, Vunayasi and Dratabu.

Parts of Nadi Town and the back road remain flooded.

Police officers have also been spotted in numbers to be patrolling the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 03F can intensify into a category one Tropical Cyclone today as it continues to move south-southwest at about 20km/hr.

The incident happened at around 11am, today.

There are three evacuation centers – one in the North and two in the Western Division.

Currently 200 people are taking shelter at these centers and the NDMO expects this number to increase as more rain is in the forecast.

Fifteen roads are currently closed due to flooding, while 18 are restricted.

Tropical Depression 03F is expected to develop into a Cyclone in the next six to 12 hours.

Fiji Meteorological Services Acting Director, Terry Atalifo confirmed that the Tropical Disturbance has intensified further into a Tropical Depression.

He further said at midday today, TD03F was located about 515 kilometres west of Nadi.

TD03F is moving very slowly and is expected to move east-southeast at about 10 kilometres per hour.

Heavy rain and strong wind warnings have been issued for Samoa and American Samoa, which have already been lashed by two tropical depressions this week.

In American Samoa, wind speeds of up to 65 km/h, with expected gusts of up to 100 km/h, were forecast on Friday morning (Thursday, local time).

Chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service in American Samoa, Elinor Lutu McMoore, said this latest system developed quickly.

The Samoa Meteorological Service said the tropical depression that brought torrential rain and strong winds since Sunday is now moving away.

Schools remain closed in both Samoas on Wednesday (Tuesday in American Samoa) as damage assessments are carried out.

In American Samoa, airports remain shut and authorities are rushing to restore power on the main island, Tutuila.

The government has chartered a ship to carry supplies to the outlying Manu'a islands, which are reported to have been severely affected.

The system is forecast to swerve south of Rotuma tonight, before tracking close to a major town, Labasa, tomorrow as a category one or two cyclone.

The Fiji Meteorological Service said it was then likely to move close to Tonga's main islands as a category two over the weekend.

Heavy wind and rain warnings are now in force for much of Fiji, with coastal flooding also forecast for Rotuma.

The Tropical Depression is moving at 10 kilometres per hour, according to the Fiji Meteorology Service.

The Director of Meteorology, Misaeli Funaki told Fiji Village said this system will move southwards and come close to Fiji and when it forms into a cyclone, it will be named Cyclone Sarai.

He said while the majority of the models are projecting for the system to move just to the west of Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups, some other models are showing that the Cyclone could come over Viti Levu later on Friday.

The system is now expected to possibly intensify into a category one cyclone later today.

At least ten families were evacuated in Navosai overnight after flood waters entered their homes.

A main highway in the capital Suva has been blocked by a landslide, and some powerlines have fallen due to strong winds.

Fiji's power authority said technicians were looking into the issue and there was no time frame on when power would be restored in the affected areas.

Fiji Times Online reports the inclement weather, which has brought heavy rainfall and strong winds in some parts of the country, is being caused by Tropical Depression TD17F, which was located about 310 kilometres north-north-west of Nadi at midday yesterday.

It is moving towards the country at 15km per hour.

Fiji Meteorological Service director Ravind Kumar said the concern for Fiji was the associated strong winds, rain and the likelihood of flooding of low-lying areas.

According to RNZI, the Fiji Meteorological Service says the system could develop into a cyclone in the next 24-48 hours.

It says Fiji may experience rain associated with the system once it moves further south.