Tropical Depression 16F is now approaching from Vanuatu and is expected to merge with another Tropical Depression.
When it reaches Fiji tonight the two would have become one system.
Neville Koop- Na Draki Meteorologist said “What we anticipate is later today TD 16 will catch up to TD 14 and basically swallow it and it will become one system TD16, we’ll probably keep that number and then it will move South East toward Fiji, so that’s where the next threat lies, the merging of these two depressions to the West near Vanuatu.”
The depression will cause more rain and flooding.
He said “more heavy rain potentially worse flooding then we’ve already experienced.The rain increases from tonight and continues tomorrow and the risk also of some gall force gusts to the Western parts of the Country which maybe pretty unpleasant for those in housing situations where they’re recovering still from Tropical Cyclone Winston.”
Rainfall over the last 48 hours in Nadarivatu exceeded the amount received in a month.
Large amounts of rainfall have been recorded for other parts.
“Parts of the interior of Viti Levu, Nadarivatu and Monasavu have had well in excess of 400 millimeters of rain over the last couple of days. Nadi has had over 350 mm in the last 48 hours starting from Sunday morning through to now so typically rainfall accumulated has been around the 150 to 200 mm mark over the last few days,several locations have reported considerably more.”
The current Nadi river level is about 2.8 meters above the flood level.
As more rain is expected the water levels for other rivers will also rise.
“And river levels are well above for Sigatoka and Ba rivers also,also for the Ra and Rakiraki we’ve seen levels rise now through the Eastern Division.The Central division the Navua and Rewa rivers and tributaries are rising and this is primarily because the rain that’s falling in the interior some of that is making it’s way down to the Coast.”
The weather is expected to start clearing from Thursday.