A tropical cyclone, which has winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour at its centre, is expected to hit Vanuatu's main island, Efate, later today.
Cyclone Xavier, which is slowly moving southeast east of Vanuatu, is expected to move to the south southwest within the next 24 hours.
The Vanuatu met service's David Gibson says heavy rainfall and flooding are expected primarily in the Malampa and Shefa provinces.
"Based on this forecast we are expecting some marginal gale-force winds to affect the areas of the central islands and specifically Shefa province and later extending to Tafea. But at this stage the system is still maintaining a south-easterly direction."
Mr Gibson forecasts for the winds to weaken, but residents should get prepared.
Meanwhile, the cyclone did reportedly not cause too much damage to the Tikopia island in the far south-east of the Solomons.
