The Vanuatu Met Office has issued a Tropical Cyclone Warning for Tafea province.
Photo: Vanuatu Met Office
Cyclone Winston, now a category three system, was located about 370 kilometres east-northeast of Tanna and 340 kilometres east-northeast of Aneityum.
Winston is moving in a southerly direction at 10km/hr, and winds close to the centre of the category three storm are estimated at 155km/hr.
Strong to gale force winds 65 to 75km/hr are affecting Tafea province.
Very rough seas with heavy swells are expected in the area.
The National Disaster Management Office operations manager Peter Korisa said a red alert for the eastern parts of Tanna, Aniwa, Aneityum and Futuna had been put in place as a precautionary measure.
"We just continue top give them an advisory message you know just to keep on preparing in case the system might make another turn and go towards the island. So it would be too late for them so we just continue to advise them to take the usual cyclone preparedness."