The Vanuatu weather office has issued a tropical depression warning system for the Penama and Malampa provinces.
The lead forecaster at the weather office, David Gibson, says the warning bulletin was issued just after three this morning.
Mr Gibson says the system is about seventy kilometres southeast of Maewo in the northern part of Vanuatu.
"The central pressure is estimated at 998 hectopascals and our estimation is the wind is about 30 knots close to the centre and possibly increasing to 35 knots to 40 knots in the next 12 hours or so. There is a good chance that it will become a cyclone in the next 12 hours."
David Gibson of the Vanuatu weather office
