- On 18 March 2026, Tropical Cyclone Upia was located around 80 km south of Sudest Island, with gusts up to 106 km/h, affecting Woodlark, Sudest, Misima and Rossel Islands, with flooding and dangerous sea conditions expected.
- An estimated 10 000 people may be exposed to strong winds, but no confirmed data on casualties or damage is available yet. This likely reflects reporting delays from remote islands.
- Potential impacts include damage to housing, food gardens and water sources, and temporary isolation due to disrupted transport.
- The Government response is currently limited to early warning and evacuation messaging.
- Strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas are expected to continue over the next 24–48 hours, with uncertain humanitarian impact pending assessments.
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