[1] This significant weather included a major westerly wind burst during late June, which caused a set of twin tropical cyclones to develop.

[4][5] This system had a well-defined low level circulation centre which was located within an environment, that was marginally favourable for further development with low-moderate vertical wind shear offset by a poleward outflow.

[5][6] The system subsequently moved south-westwards towards the Solomon Islands under the influence of a ridge of high pressure and gradually developed further and was classified as Tropical Depression 17F during the next day.

[1][10][17] Tropical Cyclone Raquel brought torrential rain, high seas and strong winds to the Solomon Islands throughout its lifetime, with widespread and extensive damage reported as a result.

[20][21] After Raquel had weakened into a tropical depression, residents were warned to still be prepared for flash floods and landslides with predictions of up to 100 mm (3.9 in) of rainfall in the Solomon Islands within a 24-hour period.

[25] It also prompted various emergency response clusters to activate their action plans, in case of a deployment to support the provinces impacted by the system.

[25] Provincial assessment teams were subsequently deployed to various provinces during July 7, in order to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to remote communities.

[27] On the same day the Gold Ridge tailing dam reached dangerous levels and began threatening communities living downstream due to heavy rainfall from Raquel.

Officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreeing to release small amounts of water to ease the pressure on the dam.

The Dissemination Officer at Solomon Islands Red Cross explained that “The radio messages are to let people know where the assessment teams are travelling to and what they will be doing when they arrive.