Rain will start to ease from Saturday, states the Fiji Meteorology Service.

The weather office adds an active trough of low pressure with associated clouds and rain will affect the Fiji group until Sunday.

“There will be occasional to periods of rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over most places. Rain gradually easing and clearing from the West from Saturday,” states Fiji Met.

Until then, for the Fiji group, strong Northwest winds with average wind speeds of 38km/hr to 47km/hr with gusts of up to 74km/hr will be experienced over the coastal land areas of the Western and Northern parts of Viti Levu.

The areas include Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, the interior of Ba, Ra, Nadroga/Navosa, Serua/Namosi, Naitasiri, Tailevu North, the Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, Vatulele, Kadavu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lau and Lomaiviti groups.

“Winds gradually easing to moderate to fresh and becoming Southerlies to North Westerlies from the West from later Friday.

There will be localised heavy falls with thunderstorms that may lead to flash flooding of low-lying areas and flood prone areas.