Cyclone Mona

Cyclone Mona downgraded as it inches towards Fiji

The cyclone has pulling a circuit in the ocean to the country's northwest for a day, and is now not expected to reach the second-biggest island, Vanua Levu, until late tomorrow.

Mona has winds as high as 100 km/hr at its centre, although the authorities are concerned about the volume of rain it will bring.

This afternoon, it was about 380km north-northwest of Yasa-i-Rara, or about 460km northwest of Labasa, the main town on Vanua Levu.

Cyclone Mona becomes a category two storm in Fiji

A few hours ago Mona was situated about 300 kilometres northwest of Labasa.

The storm is packing winds of up to 130 km/hr as it moves south-southwest.

However tonight Mona is expected to turn and move east-southeast towards the Fiji islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.

A tropical cyclone alert remains in force for most of Fiji with the far north island of Rotuma already being given the all-clear and the Yasawa and Mamanuca groups maintaining a gale warning.