A well organized circulation developed rapidly within an area of thunderstorms over the Coral Sea and the system was designated Tropical Cyclone 23P.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone 23P was located at latitude 14.4°S and longitude 160.5°E which put it about 670 miles northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia and about 600 miles west-northwest of Port Vila, Vanuatu.  It was moving toward the southwest at 12 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 65 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

Tropical Cyclone 23P is located in an area where the upper level winds are light.  That allowed thunderstorms to develop and wrap around the core of the circulation.  Upper level divergence is pumping out mass in all directions and the pressure is decreasing.  The tropical cyclone is over Sea Surface Temperatures which are near 30°C, which means there is plenty of energy in the upper ocean to support further intensification.  Tropical Cyclone 23P could reach hurricane intensity in a day or two.

The tropical cyclone is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge, which is steering it toward the southwest.  As it moves around the end of the ridge, it will turn more toward the southeast.  On its expected track Tropical Cyclone 23P could approach New Caledonia in 48 to 72 hours.