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Fiji and Tonga track Tropical Cyclone Sarai as it strengthens — This will NOT directly impact American Samoa

TC Sarai forecast track map
Source: RNZI

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Fiji Meteorological Service says Tropical Cyclone Sarai is now a Category two storm as it moves down Fiji's west coast.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai is intensifying.

In the long term forecast for American Samoa, the local weather service is forecasting adverse weather for our region on Sunday and early next week. This will include building seas, increasing winds, along with rain that may be heavy at times. No tropical storm warning is in effect for American Samoa, however there is a high surf advisory.

At 4pm Fiji time on Friday, the centre was located 230 kilometres north-west of Nadi with wind gusts of upto 130 kilometres an hour.

The cyclone is moving south but will turn south-east, and on its forecast track will pass adjacent to the main island Viti Levu and then across Fiji's southern islands, before heading towards Tonga's Ha'apai Group.

Tonga's Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre has been activated as Tropical Cyclone Sarai is expected to cross into Tonga waters this weekend.

The Cyclone Warning Centre will continue to provide Tropical Cyclone Advisories, Alerts and Warnings for Tonga on the developments of Tropical Cyclone Sarai every six hours, advisories will be updated more often prior to its track closing into Tonga waters.

Large trees are reported to have been brought down in the Suva area blocking roads and flooding in the Northern Division and Rakiraki have caused road closures.

Travellers to, from and within Fiji should contact airlines or shipping companies to confirm details as there have been cancellations.

Forecasters say the storm is also threatening prolonged periods of rain and flooding in low lying areas.