Heavy rain, strong northerly winds and rough seas continue to affect Fiji as Severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu (Category 3) remains in the region. The National Weather Forecasting Centre issued an update at 3:41pm on Tuesday 7 April 2026 confirming a Heavy Rain Warning for the entire Fiji group, a Flash Flood Warning for Viti Levu (with a Flash Flood Alert for the rest of Fiji), and a Strong Wind Warning for land areas. At midday today the cyclone was located near 18.1°S 174.8°E, about 250 km west‑southwest of Viwa and 280 km west of Nadi, moving south‑southeast at roughly 18 km/h.
The strongest winds are expected across the Northern Division, the Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, the western half of Viti Levu (from Sigatoka–Coral Coast through Nadi to Rakiraki), Kadavu and nearby smaller islands. These areas can expect strong to near‑gale northerly winds up to 60 km/h with gusts to 95 km/h, with very rough to high seas. Elsewhere, strong northerly winds of up to 45 km/h with gusts to 70 km/h are expected. Winds should gradually ease from the west later tomorrow and spread across the rest of the group, with seas subsiding to moderate to rough.
Widespread rain is forecast through tomorrow: occasional to periods of rain, heavy at times, and a few thunderstorms over most places. Rain is expected to gradually ease to showers from later tomorrow night, but localised heavy falls may still cause flash flooding of low‑lying and flood‑prone areas. The bulletin also warns of possible isolated damage to houses made from old corrugated iron or timber and unsheltered structures in exposed communities, along with broken tree branches in gusty conditions.
Outlook into Thursday is for showers, heavy at times, and isolated thunderstorms across the Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, western Viti Levu, the Northern Division, Taveuni, Lau and Lomaiviti; other areas should see cloudy periods with some showers and afternoon or evening heavy falls and thunderstorms, gradually easing later in the day. Winds will be moderate to fresh, gusty at times, and seas moderate to rough. For the Suva–Nausori area, fresh to strong northerly winds and occasional heavy rain are expected tomorrow, with temperatures near a 23°C minimum and 28°C maximum.
Rotuma remains under a Strong Wind Warning associated with an active trough of low pressure. Expect strong northeasterly winds on land up to 45 km/h (gusting to 55 km/h), northeasterly winds 20–25 knots on the waters with gusts to 30 knots, rough seas, and occasional to periods of rain heavy at times with thunderstorms. Winds there are expected to ease to moderate to fresh later tomorrow, though strong winds and rain may continue into Thursday. For full details and updates refer to the National Weather Forecasting Centre alerts.
Leave a comment