A cyclone alert is coming into force in the north of New Caledonia about now
Tropical Cyclone Ruby, which is rated Category 2, formed in the Coral Sea yesterday, and is moving in a southeasterly direction.
Tropical Cyclone Ruby Photo: Fiji Meteorological Service
It is expected to make landfall late tonight.
Forecasters say Ruby is expected to move over the Loyalty Islands tomorrow, bringing wind gusts of up to 170 kilometres an hour close to its centre.
The system is forecast to bring heavy rain across New Caledonia, with the main island's east coast expected to get 200 millimetres of rain in 12 hours.
Ruby is the first cyclone of the season.