A Tropical Cyclone Alert is now in force for the whole of the Fiji group.

Tropical Cyclone Tomas was located 730 kilometers North North East of Udu Point at 12pm today.

Close to its centre the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of 65 kilometers per hour.

The cyclone is moving West at 10 kilometers per hour and is gradually intensifying.

The centre of the cyclone is expected to be located about 510 kilometers North North East of Labasa at midday tomorrow and located about 210 kilometers North of Udu Point and about 265 kilometers North North East of Labasa at midday Sunday.

The Nadi Weather Office said on this forecast track the cyclone may bring damaging gale force winds over Northern Vanua Levu and Cikobia in the next 36 to 48 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to enter the Fiji group sometime late tomorrow or early Sunday based on its current speed and intensity.

Director Rajendra Prasad said Tropical Cyclone Tomas is currently located 730 kilometers North North East of Udu Point and is slowly moving towards Fiji.

Prasad said Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to intensify as it moves closer.

Prasad said by tomorrow Tropical Cyclone Tomas is expected to be upgraded to Category Three Hurricane and people need to be prepared.

He said the system should continue to intensify and curve southwards as it reaches Fiji longitudes. Present indications are that it could reach category 3 (hurricane) status as it reaches Fiji.

Usually a category 3 and above Tropical Cyclone can dictate its own path.

There is another system which the Nadi Weather Office is monitoring.

The second Tropical Depression located just west of Santo Island in Vanuatu is also expected to deepen and form into a Tropical Cyclone in the next 12-18 hours.

The system is expected to drift westwards and is therefore of no direct threat to Fiji at this stage.

A trough of low pressure extends onto the Fiji and is expected to cause scattered rainfall activity today.

Winds are expected to become strong with outer rain bands from the cyclone expected to affect the Northern and Eastern divisions from tomorrow and spread to other areas by Sunday. 

A Tropical Cyclone Alert is being considered for Fiji right now.

The slow moving nature of Tropical Cyclone Tomas will determine when this alert will be issued.

Prasad said the first Cyclone Alert for Fiji is expected to be issued later this afternoon.