Vanuatu province given 'all clear' as Cyclone Urmil moves away

The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office has given the 'all clear' to TAFEA Province as Tropical Cyclone Urmil moves away, tracking southeast.

Earlier on Saturday, a red alert was issued for TAFEA province as a tropical cyclone hovered near the province.

Tropical Cyclone Urmil, a category 2 cyclone, formed southwest of Port Vila on Friday.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department's last special weather bulletin on Tropical Cyclone Urmil said damaging Gale force winds of 90 km/hr will continue to affect Tafea Province on Saturday, 28 February, 2026

Heavy rainfalls with flash flooding are expected over low lying areas and areas close to river banks, including coastal flooding over TAFEA today. Very rough seas with heavy to phenomenal swells are expected over the area mention above.

Marine strong wind warning is current for Central and southern waters of Vanuatu. High Seas wind warning is also current for all open waters of Vanuatu. People, including sea going vessels are advised to take precautions.

Today at 6am Fiji time, Cyclone Urmil is tracking southeastward and is moving at a faster pace, currently at about 30km/hr. The centre of the cyclone is not expected to move directly over Fiji. However, associated rainbands and strong winds are already affecting parts of the country. Photo/Fiji Meteorological Service.

Conditions in the province are expected to ease as the cyclone moves further out to open ocean.

Communities on Tanna island prepared for a Friday night of heavy weather as Tropical cyclone Urmil passed close-by.

Mora Kapum of White Grass Ocean Resort in Lenakel told RNZ Pacific that there was heavy rain and strong winds last night [Friday], leading to some minor flooding.

She said there is no serious damage there but there is a lot of cleaning up today, and it's still very windy.

Video of heavy winds and rain in Fiji shared on Facebook.

Fiji

The Fiji Meteorological Service has issued severe weather warnings for the country.

A flash flood alert is now in force for the Western Division from Sigatoka to Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki.

And a heavy rain warning remains in force for the Western Division [including Yasawa and Mamanuca groups], Kadavu and nearby smaller islands and is now in force for the rest of the Fiji group.

A special weather bulletin for heavy rain said a trough of low pressure with cloud and rain remains slow moving over Fiji.

On Sunday morning, a tropical cyclone warning remains in force across parts of Tonga as Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Urmil moves east-southeast away from the kingdom, bringing gale-force winds, heavy rain and flash flood risks to Tongatapu, ʻEua, Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, along with rough to very high seas and damaging swells across coastal waters. Photo/Tonga Meteorological Services.

Meanwhile, Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Urmil lies over Vanuatu and is expected to pass the southwest of Fiji tonight.

On this track, it is expected to direct a strong northwesterly wind flow, with active rain bands over the country.

This story was originally published by RNZ Pacific at 7.42pm on 28 February 2026. PMN News has added updates to the captions and video.