Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Mal on its current path it is expected to be around 200 kilometres west of Nadi at midnight tonight as a category 2 system.

The Nadi Weather Office says at its forecast track, it is not expected to make landfall.

The centre of TC Mal was located about 440 kilometres West-Northwest of Rotuma and about 690 kilometres Northwest of Yasawa-I-Rara at midnight.

TC Mal is moving in the southeast direction at 43 kilometres per hour.

A flash flood warning is in force for low-lying flash flood-prone areas in low-lying areas and crossing in Qauia, Lami and low-lying areas in Wailoku including Marata Village.

A flash flood alert for flood-prone areas, small streams and low-lying areas of Lami, Suva and Nausori to Tailevu areas, Coral Coast to Navua, Naitasiri Province and Ovalau.

Possible impacts due to heavy rain include localised flooding of susceptible communities, businesses and low-lying areas, localised flooding of minor roads, Irish Crossings and bridges with some disruption to traffic flow, and poor visibility at land and sea with increased risk of accidents due to slippery roads.

Periods of rain, heavy at times are likely to be over the Fiji group until early today.

A heavy rain warning and a strong wind warning remain in force for the whole of the Fiji Group.

A storm warning remains in force for Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups, Western and Northern Viti Levu, while a gale alert is now in force for Rotuma, western half Vanua Levu (Dreketi, Bua to Savusavu), eastern Viti Levu and Lomaiviti Group.

The Nadi Weather Office says this means that damaging cyclone-related winds are imminent in these locations within 24 hours.

A storm alert is in force for Southern Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

The path of the system is expected to pass close to the west of Viti Levu with storm-force winds over the Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups, western and southern Viti Levu, Vatulele, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

However, it is a huge system and its effect can be far-reaching.

Consequently, a gale warning is in force as far as western Vanua Levu (Dreketi, Bua to Savusavu), eastern Viti Levu and Lomaiviti Group.

These winds can break tree branches, blow unsecured and loose materials, disrupt communication network and power supply due to damaged power lines, damage temporary and weak structures, increase the risk of sea travel for all types of sea crafts, and increase the risk for hazardous breaking waves and coastal inundation of debris along low lying coastal areas, especially during high tides.

The cyclone may begin to have an impact on the Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups from later today.

While the system is expected to begin to affect Viti Levu from this afternoon, most of the destructive winds are expected overnight and into early tomorrow morning.

People are advised to do as much preparatory work during the daylight hours.

The trough of low pressure associated with Cyclone Mal is already bringing a lot of rain over the country, especially over the Northern, Eastern and Central Divisions.

High tides are expected at around 6am today and around 12.30pm tonight.

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