Heavy rain warning for Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, Kadavu and nearby islands; alert for the rest of Fiji

A heavy rain warning is now force for Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands while a heavy rain alert is now in force for the rest of Fiji.

The Nadi Weather Office says an active trough of low pressure lies over the group where associated cloud and rain are expected to affect the country for the next few days.

They say the system is expected to affect the country until Good Friday, then start to ease up over the long weekend.

The Office says heavy rain could lead to flash flooding of some low-lying informal settlements and communities, businesses and Irish Crossing, leading to disruption to traffic flow.

The Weather Office says surface flooding is also expected on streets, particularly in urban areas with poor drainage systems and reduced visibility.