14 Jul 2011

Heavy swells in Fiji abating

1:25 pm on 14 July 2011

Fiji's Meteorological Office says heavy swells that have been affecting low lying coastal areas are abating.

A warning is in force this week for the Yasawa and Mananuca group, Western Viti Levu, Coral Coast, South Eastern Viti Levu, Kadavu, Southern Lau and the Lomaiviti group.

The duty weather forecaster says apart from some sea flooding that's occurred as a result of the swells, no other damage has been reported.

Rajneel Prasad says a nearby high pressure weather system is largely to blame.

"Well it's actually generated from a system that's more of a surge over the Tasman sea that's generating these southerly swells over the group. It has nothing to do with the south easterly winds that Fiji is currently experiencing."

Rajneel Prasad says they expect to lift the heavy swells warning within the next 12 to 24 hours.