Tropical Cyclone Ella is moving away from the French island of Futuna after passing close to its northern coast.
Meteo France says the cyclone with winds close to its centre gusting to 140km/h is maintaining its intensity.
A level 2 alert has been in force for since last night, meaning everybody has to be in shelters and all movements are banned.
The storm has been slow moving and is bound to head west.
The Fiji Met Office says Ella is moving northwest at 9 kilometres an hour and by midnight it is expected to be about 260 kilometres to the northeast of Fiji's island Cikobia.
The system is forecast to maintain its category 2 strength for the next three days as it moves westwards between Vanua Levu and Rotuma.