Tropical Depression TD09F continues to intensify and is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone later today, becoming the first named system of the 2025–26 Tropical Cyclone Season.
The Fiji Meteorological Service said the system strengthened overnight from a tropical disturbance into a tropical depression.
At 6am today, TD09F was located about 90 kilometres southwest of Port Vila, Vanuatu, and around 1,020 kilometres west of Nadi.
It is moving south-southeast at approximately 15 kilometres per hour.
Forecasters say the centre of the system is expected to remain well to the far west of Fiji and is not forecast to move directly over the group.
However, TD09F continues to draw energy from warm Pacific waters and is likely to reach tropical cyclone intensity within the next six to 12 hours.
Once upgraded, it will be named Tropical Cyclone Urmil.
Although the cyclone’s core is expected to stay distant, associated rainbands and strong to gusty north-northwesterly winds are forecast to affect parts of Fiji from tomorrow.
