Issued at 10:45am on Wednesday 8 April 2026, the National Weather Forecasting Centre in Nadi says Severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu (Category 3) and an associated trough are keeping hazardous conditions across Fiji. A heavy rain warning is in force for the entire group, with flash flood and flood warnings for several river catchments and low-lying areas. The cyclone was located near 21.7S 176.9E (about 310 km south‑southwest of Kadavu and south of Nadi) at 9am and is moving south‑southeast away from Fiji at about 23 km/hr.
Strong northwesterly winds are expected across the southwest of Viti Levu, Vatulele, Beqa, the Lau group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, with sustained speeds up to 55 km/hr and gusts to 80 km/hr. The remainder of the islands will see fresh northwesterlies, gusty at times, gradually shifting westerly and easing to moderate to fresh from tomorrow. Marine conditions are hazardous now, with seas rough to very rough around much of the group and becoming moderate to rough from tomorrow.
Rain will be frequent and heavy at times with a risk of thunderstorms over most places. Showers should begin to ease from the west later tonight and clear more generally from tomorrow, but localized heavy falls remain possible and may produce flash flooding. A flood warning is current for flood‑prone areas adjacent to and downstream of the Tuva River in Nadroga, the Nawaka River and the Nadi River; a flood alert applies to low‑lying and flood‑prone areas adjacent to and downstream of the Tavua and Nadi Rivers. A flash flood warning covers Viti Levu, with a flash flood alert for the rest of Fiji.
In urban and population centres — including Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Sigatoka, the Coral Coast, Navua, Suva, Nausori, Tavua, Rakiraki, Labasa, Savusavu, Taveuni, and the Lau and Lomaiviti groups — expect occasional rain heavy at times with a few thunderstorms. Temperatures are generally near 29°C for daytime maximums today and low to mid‑20s°C overnight. Rain should ease to showers from tomorrow, but Friday will still see cloudy periods with afternoon or evening showers and isolated heavy falls or thunderstorms in many locations.
Rotuma remains under a strong wind warning as an active trough affects the island. Expect strong northeasterly winds to 45 km/hr with gusts to 55 km/hr, northeasterly winds of 20–25 knots over the waters gusting to 30 knots, rough seas, and periods of rain tending to ease from tomorrow. Residents and mariners should heed warnings, avoid traversing flooded waterways and low‑lying areas, and follow updates from the National Weather Forecasting Centre at met.gov.fj/alerts.
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