During October 20, 2006 the Fiji Meteorological Service and the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center started to monitor a tropical depression, that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone to the north of Temotu Province in the Solomon Islands.

[1][2][3] The system was located within an area of low to moderate vertical wind shear and had a good outflow in its northern and eastern quadrants.

[4][5] Over the next day conditions surrounding the system rapidly became favourable for further development, with convection starting to wrap into a well defined low level circulation centre.

[1][2] During that day the system performed a small cyclonic loop over Temotu Province and passed near or over the Santa Cruz Island of Tikopia.

[10] The FMS subsequently estimated during October 24, that the system had peaked as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 175 km/h (110 mph), while it was located about 220 km (135 mi) to the east of Vanua Lava in northern Vanuatu.

[1] Early on October 22, both RSMC Nadi and TCWC Brisbane started to issue special advisories to support the meteorological services of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands in tracking the cyclone.