23 Feb 2016

Winston forecast to have little effect on Vanuatu

2:48 pm on 23 February 2016

A forecaster in Vanuatu says the country's southern Tafea province can expect strong winds and heavy rain, but cyclone Winston to the east poses little threat.

Cyclone Winston

Photo: Vanuatu Met Office

Winston, now a category three, is currently about 370 kilometres east-northeast of Tanna and with winds as high as 155 kilometres an hour at its centre.

Tom Natick, from Vanuatu's Meteorological Service, said the eastern part of Tafea could expect some strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas, but the cyclone did not pose any particular danger.

Mr Natick said Winston was expected to continue on its track south and weaken further as it enters the cooler waters of the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand.

"As it leaves Fiji the cyclone was tracking west and we were worried, but it has [started] tracking south so this is good news for us and we hope that it will continue south."