Tropical Cyclone Yasa strengthened between Fiji and Vanuatu on Sunday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Yasa was located at latitude 15.7°S and longitude 172.1°E which put it about 380 miles (610 km) west-northwest of Nadi, Fiji. Yasa was moving toward the west-southwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Yasa strengthened on Sunday after the circulation of former Tropical Cyclone 04P was absorbed by the larger circulation around Yasa. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern side of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Yasa. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Yasa will be in an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days. Yasa will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will be in a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Yasa will likely intensify into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 18 hours. It could strengthen to the equivalent of a major hurricane in about three days.

Tropical Cyclone Yasa will be in an area where the steering winds are weak during the next 24 hours. Yasa is forecast to make a slow clockwise loop during the next 24 to 36 hours. Eventually, a high pressure system over the South Pacific Ocean will start to steer Tropical Cyclone Yasa toward the southeast. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Yasa could approach Fiji in about four days.

Elsewhere over the South Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone 06P developed north of Tonga. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone 06P was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 173.9°W which put it about 60 miles (95 km) north of Neiafu, Tonga. It was moving toward the south-southwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.