According to the latest low pressure news from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the tropical depression is located about 617km west of Port Vila (Vanuatu) and is moving south at a speed of about 30km/h in the past 6 hours.
The sustained wind speed is estimated at about 65km/h, with some eastern outskirts recording stronger winds.
Current environmental conditions are assessed to be favorable for the development of tropical depressions.
Forecast models all agree that the system will continue to move southward and gradually strengthen in the next 24-48 hours.
The tropical depression may develop into a tropical storm.
In the coming days, bad weather is likely to affect New Caledonia, with heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas. This tropical depression is unlikely to affect mainland Australia - which just welcomed Super Typhoon Narelle last weekend.
It is forecast that the tropical depression will continue to move southward, then turn southeast towards the Tasman Sea area.
Tourists planning to visit islands in the South Pacific, especially Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, need to closely monitor weather forecasts, proactively adjust flight schedules and sea activities due to the risk of increasing bad weather in the next 1-2 days.
