12 May 2017

Cyclone Ella moving away from Futuna

5:20 pm on 12 May 2017
A satellite image of Cyclone Ella above the French Pacific island of Futuna on Friday.

A satellite image of Cyclone Ella above the French Pacific island of Futuna on Friday. Photo: Meteo France

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.

The forecast trajectory of Cyclone Ella, skirting the northern coast of the French Pacific island of Futuna.

The forecast trajectory of Cyclone Ella, skirting the northern coast of the French Pacific island of Futuna. Photo: Meteo France

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.