The Nadi Weather office is closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Funa which was located 130 kilometers West North West of Santo in Vanuatu at around 3 o'clock this morning.

Deputy Director, Alipate Waqaicelua confirms Tropical Cyclone Funa is also located West North West of Nadi at about 1,200 kilometers. He said the cyclone is moving East North East at 10 knots and at present poses no direct threat to Fiji.

It is expected to curve East and then South East in the next 24 hours. Funa is a category 1 Tropical cyclone with damaging gale force winds close to its centre at this stage but should intensify into a category 2 system, attaining destructive storm force winds within 12 to 18 hours. It could easily gain hurricane intensity later today.

Waqaicelua said it should start causing strong winds and heavy rain over at least the Western part of the country from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a strong wind warning remains in force for all Fiji waters except for the Kadavu passage, South West Viti Levu and Southern Koro Sea.

A flash flood warning is also in force for the low lying areas of Viti Levu as the trough of low pressure is still over the group and is expected to bring continuous heavy rain.