Vanuatu's Meteorological Service has issued an advisory for the country's southern Tafea province as cyclone Winston enters its waters.
Cyclone Winston near Vanuatu. The cyclone is expected to veer south, but a cyclone advisory has been issued for Tafea. Photo: Vanuatu Meteorological Service
The cyclone, which is currently a category four after it devastated Fiji at the weekend as a category five, is currently about 440 kilometres east of Efate.
The service says winds close its centre are estimated to be around 175 kilometres an hour, although they are believed to be intensifying.
A warning has not yet been issued, but the service says the cyclone may affect Tafea in the next 12 to 24 hours.
Winston is expected to veer southwest into colder waters, but the cyclone has proved erratic and changed path many times in the weeks since it formed.