South Pacific Ocean: Tropical Cyclone 12 is tracking southeastward across the South Pacific Ocean, west of Vanuatu afternoon Feb. 9 /update 1

Tropical Cyclone 12 is tracking southeastward across the South Pacific Ocean, west of Vanuatu, the afternoon of Feb. 9. As of 14:00 VUT, the storm’s center of circulation was approximately 374 km (232 miles) west-northwest of Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Forecast models indicate that the weather system will maintain its strength as it continues tracking southeastward through Feb. 9 before making landfall over Efate Island early Feb. 10. The storm is likely to continue tracking southeastward away from the island through early Feb. 12 before making a…