Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila has intensified into a category four storm, located in the Solomon Sea, moving west and expected to hit parts of Australia's far northern Queensland early next week.
The cyclone is forecast to impact communities around the Solomon Islands and the far south parts of Papua New Guinea, with sustained winds near the centre of around 165 kilometres per hour and wind gusts to 230 kilometres per hour.
A severe weather warning has been issued for island communities in Milne Bay, with the islands to be affected being Woodlark, Sudest, Misima, Rossel, and Bougainville in the east of Papua New Guinea.
The threat of Cyclone Maila comes at a time when another major storm system, severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, is expected to make landfall in New Zealand.
