Following the storm's naming, Pam began to curve southwards around midday on March 9. Computer models continued to point towards the possibility of rapid intensification occurring as the cyclone approached Vanuatu [REF].
Early on March 13, the JTWC determined Pam reached its peak one-minute sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) as it neared Vanuatu;[REF] this was increased to 280 km/h (175 mph) in post-season reanalysis.