Futuna Island
During January 2, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 07F had developed to the southeast of Futuna Island. Over the next three days the system gradually developed further underneath an upper-level ridge of high pressure, within an area of moderate vertical wind shear, as it slowly moved towards the southwest. Late on January 5, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Cyclone 07P, before RSMC Nadi named the system Ian, after it had become a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.