Expect damaging winds, continuous heavy rain and widespread flooding in many parts of Viti Levu, Vanua Leavu and a number of outer islands.
Destructive winds have also caused a lot damage in some areas in Viti Levu.
A Tropical Cyclone warning is in force for the Southern Parts of Viti Levu which includes areas from Momi, Nadroga through to Pacific Harbour, Kadavu, Beqa, Vatulele, Matuku, Vatoa and Ono-I-Lau.
A storm warning remains in force for the rest of Viti Levu including Suva and Nausori, Yasawa, Mamanuca, Lomaiviti and the rest of the Southern Lau Group and is also in place for Moala, Totoya and Vanuavatu.
A gale warning remains in force for Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lakeba, Cicia and the rest of the Lau Group.
A strong wind remains in place for the rest of Fiji while a heavy rain warning remains in force for Fiji.
The Nadi Weather Office says the centre of Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Harold is currently located 260 kilometres west of Nadi.
It is travelling in a east southeast direction at about 28 kilometres per hour.
Although the centre of TC Harold is not expected to pass over land in Fiji at this stage, we are feeling the outer effects of the large cyclone. As stated yesterday please take precautions as this is a large system and is bringing damaging winds and a lot of rain which is expected to cause coastal and river flooding. The Nadi Weather Office and Na Draki are both saying while it is predicted that Cyclone Harold will not make landfall over any of the islands of Fiji, the centre will pass close enough to the Mamanucas, southern Yasawas, Viti Levu, Vatulele, Beqa, Kadavu and southern Lau that people in these areas will very likely experience damaging winds with gusts to 240 kilometres per hour starting from this morning.
People in Yasawa and Mamanuca, Lomaiviti and the Southern Lau Group can expect damaging winds with gusts increasing to 155km/hr from this morning.
For Vauna Levu, Taveuni, Lakeba, Cicia and the rest of the Lau Group people can expect damaging winds with momentary gusts of upto 120km/hr.
Expect continuous heavy rain increasing with widespread local flash flooding expected about the western, central and northern divisions.
Restricted movement for Viti Levu confirmed by NDMO
People in Viti Levu are now under restricted movement which means there should be no unnecessary movement. This has been confirmed by the Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Vasiti Soko who says only emergency service vehicles are now allowed on the road.
She says if Police see people unnecessarily moving around, they will chase them home.
The NDMO Director says essential workers will have to carry their work ID.
A total of 25 evacuation centres have been activated around the country.
Stay away from incomplete WG Friendship Plaza on McGregor Road
Please stay away from the incomplete WG Friendship Plaza on McGregor Road in Suva.
Fijivillage has received reports that metal and aluminum pipes are flying off the building and landing on the road and neighbouring properties.
We are advising you to stay away from the area.
A WG Friendship spokesperson says they had secured the building area but they do not know what is flying from the building. He says their workers are now at the site to check the situation.
Two injured in Vusuya
Two people were injured in Vusuya early this morning.
Soko says one person is at home and one is in a stable condition awaiting the x-ray.
Chief Medical Adviser, Doctor Jemesa Tudravu says this is one of the group of people affected by the tornado this morning.
Tornadoes from TC Harold Affect Nakasi and Nausori Bhawani Dayal School’s double storey classroom block roof and other houses significantly damaged
Tornadoes associated with Tropical Cyclone Harold have severely affected some houses and buildings in Nakasi and Nausori – it resulted in the roof of Bhawani Dayal School getting ripped off and blown away.
Nadi Weather Office Director, Misaele Funaki says that it is possible that severe tropical cyclones like Harold can spawn tornadoes after people from Vusuya in Nausori also said that their homes were damaged by a tornado at about 3 o’çlock this morning.
We are getting reports that about 7 houses have been damaged in Vusuya, and houses in Nakasi and Bhawani Dayal School have been badly damaged.
15 houses have been badly damaged by strong winds and rain in Waidamudamu, Nausori early this morning.
Resident Ashwin Prasad says it seems a tornado blew their roof away at about 4.30am.
He says his family had to take shelter under their tables.
Prasad also says that at least two of his neighbours are injured.
Another resident, Umesh Chand says he has never seen such a situation in Waidamudamu.
He says he was woken up at around 4am because of the heavy rain and strong winds.
He adds that Waidamudamu is flooded and the water level has risen to about 4 feet.
Expect damaging to destructive winds, heavy rain, coastal and river flooding
The Nadi Weather Office says a hurricane warning remains in force for southern parts of Viti levu [from Momi through to the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour], Beqa, Vatulele, Kadavu, Matuku, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau.
A storm warning remains in force for the rest of Viti Levu, Lomaiviti, Moala, Totoya, Vanuavatu and the rest of southern Lau Group.
A gale warning remains in force yasawa and mamanuca group, for the rest of the Lau Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands.
A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
A damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, western and southern coast of Viti Levu, Vatulele, Beqa, Kadavu, Moala, Lomaiviti and southern Lau Group.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the Fiji Group. A flash flood warning remains in force for low lying areas and small streams within the Rakiraki catchment and is now in force for the rest of the low lying areas and small streams within catchments in fiji.
The centre of Tropical Cyclone Harold is located about 180 kilometres west-southwest of Nadi. Close to its centre the cyclone is estimated to have average winds up to 185 km/hr with momentary gusts to 260 km/hr. The cyclone is currently moving east-southeast at about 30 km/hr. On this track, the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 170 kilometres east-southeast of Kadavu or 200km west-northwest of Ono i Lau at 6pm tonight and about 330 kilometres east-southeast of Ono-i-Lau at 6am tomorrow.
Please note that destructive and damaging winds are likely to begin a few or several hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby. Expect very destructive hurricane force winds with speeds up to 170 km/hr and momentary gusts to 240 km/hr.
Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas are expected during high tides, with storm surge heights upto 2 meters expected along the coasts when centre passes nearby. The next high tide is at 6.37 tonight.
Localised heavy rain may lead to flash flooding of low lying areas. Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is expected during high tides, with storm surge heights upto 2 metres expected along the coasts when the centre passes nearby.
Weather Office warns damaging winds and continuous rain expected to continue
It can be a tornado in Vusuya, Nausori – Nadi Weather Office
Nadi Weather Office Director, Misaele Funaki says that it is possible that tornadoes can be formed during severe tropical cyclones after people from Vusuya in Nausori claimed that their homes were damaged by a tornado at about 3 o’çlock this morning.
We are getting reports that about 7 houses have been damaged in Vusuya.
Funaki says severe tropical cyclones like Harold can spawn tornadoes.
Bhawani Dayal School Block roof blown away while houses in Nakasi badly damaged Some people injured at Momi Feeder Rd in Nausori
The rooftop of one of the school blocks of Bhawani Dayal Arya School in Nakasi was blown away this morning.
Some houses in Momi Feeder Road in Nausori have been partially damaged due to damaging winds and heavy rain.
Momi resident Umesh Prasad says the roof of their house was blown away at about 3 o’clock this morning.
Prasad says his family is now sheltering in his father’s house which was not damaged.
Another Resident, Daya Nand says they are currently taking shelter at a neighbour’s place along with three other families because their houses were badly damaged due to damaging winds.
Nand says his house is badly damaged along with his car and other appliances.
He also claims that a woman has been taken to the hospital after suffering cuts to her hand while some other people have also suffered minor injuries.
We are continuing to get reports of damage to houses in the Nakasi to Nasinu corridor.
In Nakasi squatter settlement, at least three families had to be evacuated as winds wreaked havoc early this morning.
A tree has also fallen on a house in Nakasi squatter settlement.
We have been informed by the family that they managed to escape just in time.
These families have been moved to evacuation centres.
In River Road squatter settlement in Narere, there has been damage to 7 houses where the roofs have been blown away.
Families there have also started moving to evacuation centres as it is a flood prone area.
Four houses in Onnie Place in Navosai have also been extensively damaged.
These were well built houses and families got a rude awakening when the rooftops of their houses were being ripped off by destructive winds.
The women and children have moved to evacuation centres while the men have stayed back to salvage what they can.
Police are assisting residents in these areas to evacuate.
Qauia in Lami affected by rising flood waters
Close to 100 homes in Qauia, Lami have been affected by rising flood waters this morning.
Jokaveti Moce says that the flood waters started rising at around 5 this morning.
Moce says that flood waters have also entered some of the homes.
Temple roof flies away in Nabitu, Sigatoka
Houses damaged in Sigatoka
Temple roof flies away in Nabitu, Sigatoka Houses damaged in Sigatoka
A few houses in Nabitu, Sigatoka are partially damaged due to strong winds this morning.
A resident has told fijivillage that this includes the roof of their temple that has been blown away completely.
Ba Town is flooded.
The Main Street of Ba Town is flooded and there are reports of other areas also flooded in Ba
Flood waters have entered shops in Ba Town.
Stay with us for developments.
Unplanned power outage currently being faced by the whole of Viti Levu
An unplanned power outage is currently being faced by the whole of Viti Levu.
Energy Fiji Limited has confirmed that the reason for the outage is still unknown and a team has been deployed to restore power supply.
EFL say it is still unclear when power supply will be restored.
Stay with us for updates.
Bus services suspended in Viti Levu
Bus services in Viti Levu has been suspended due to heavy rain and strong winds brought in by Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Harold.
This has been confirmed by Fiji Bus Operators Association President Nisar Ali Shah.
Shah also confirms that operators are providing services in Vanua Levu but a decision will be made soon as they are experiencing strong winds this morning.
Flooding in Lautoka
Sashi Kiran of FRIEND Fiji says they have received reports of flooding in some of the low-lying areas in Lautoka and Ba.
Kiran says in Lautoka they have had gusty winds and heavy rain from about 3 this morning.
She adds once the weather clears they will be going out to see what the people affected by the weather system need.
While we had experienced heavy rain and strong winds last night up until this morning and Police officers were deployed to assist those in need of urgent assistance due to the impacts of TC Harold, Police were at the same time making arrests with regards to COVID-19 curfew and social gathering breaches.
Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says 51 arrests were made of which 32 were for curfew breaches and 17 for social gatherings.
The other 2 arrests were for self-isolation breaches.
Qiliho says early this morning, policing operations has been beefed up as they look to ensure all COVID-19, TC Harold operations with regards to rescue and evacuation operations, the manning of evacuation centers and routine operations is covered well.
Please help make the situation easier for stakeholders and officials who are working tirelessly to ensure everyone is safe as we brace for the impacts of TC Harold.
Listen to advisories and stop the unnecessary movement unless it's for an emergency.
Navua River is rising
Navua River is rising We have received reports that Navua River is on the brink of breaking its banks due to continuous heavy rain.
A resident, Niraj Pratap says they were experiencing rain since this morning but it started to get much heavier from 11am today.
He says they are also experiencing strong winds.
Plantation Island prepared for the worst
Plantation Island prepared for the worst
Plantation Island General Manager Alex Wilson says he along with their 35 staff are safe.
Wilson says they had prepared for the cyclone over the past weekend and he is glad they did.
He says they continue to feel strong winds and heavy rain.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
