-
Source: ONE News
Weather forecasters say there is a high chance a tropical depression in the South Pacific will develop into a cyclone later today and be on a course that could see it hammer the Solomon Islands before moving into the Tasman Sea.
The Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre in Fiji forecasted the storm would be named Freda later today and within 72 hours would become a category two cyclone with winds up to 116km/h.
The depression is this morning around 400km north east of the Solomon's capital of Honiara and is tracking south west to pass south of Guadalcanal.
Most of the major islands of the archipelago are under warning watch.
''Heavy rain at times and squally thunderstorms over most provinces and islands,'' the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said.
''People should take precautionary measures as bad weather associated with the tropical depression poses threats to lives and properties.''
The storm comes two weeks after Cyclone Evans formed 2000km to the east and caused widespread damage to Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and Fiji.