Cyclone Winston predicted to hit Fiji's southern Lau group

Fiji's Southern Lau group is expected to experience its second category three cyclone of the year within the next few days.

In the first week of January Cyclone Ula crossed the Lau group causing minor damage.

The Director of Meteorology said Cyclone Winston, lying to the south, was expected to turn towards Fiji waters after initially tracking southeast away from Vanuatu.

Ravind Kumar said within a couple of days the outer islands in Lau should feel the brunt of Cyclone Winston, which was packing winds gusting up to 220 kilometres an hour.