Tropical Cyclone

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.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the disturbance was about 700km west of Rotuma and moving east.

Fiji Meteorological Service director Misa Funaki said people, especially in the maritime islands, were being warned to expect rough seas, heavy rain and strengthening winds.

"As [of Wednesday afternoon], it is still located about 1000km northwest of Nadi, it is slowly moving eastwards. Its current projections are projecting for it to head towards Vanua Levu, and we are looking at around Friday for this to occur.

The office said during every cyclone season there were active periods, the last one seeing the formation of Cyclone Sarai over the new year break.

Sarai, which was downgraded to a low pressure system, caused minor damage on Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, with some flooding in areas with poor drainage, fallen power lines, and flattened vegetation.

The Met Service said the next active period started today and warned that a threatening tropical depression was forming between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, which had the potential to develop further.