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Tropical Cyclone Hola is still moving towards the top of the North Island but has weakened to a Category 2.
The Fiji Meteorological Service reclassified the cyclone at 3pm Fiji time today.
The cyclone is moving towards New Zealand, with the New Zealand Meteorological Service taking over forecasting duties on Sunday.
The cyclone that hit Vanuatu yesterday is expected to hit the North Island on Monday and Tuesday.
Metservice meteorologist Brian Mercer said the hurricane’s downgrade had little impact on the storm.
“By the time it reaches New Zealand it is no longer a tropical cyclone but is instead bound to the mid-latitude winds and jet stream from which it draws its energy.”
“It has weakened but it will still be a powerful storm.”
Earlier today, Weatherwatch NZ analyst Philip Duncan said the storm was further away from New Zealand and looked set to be stronger than Gita and Fehi.
He said wind disasters were still possible, but their intensity was likely to be further reduced as the storm transformed into a cyclone earlier.
Many “moving parts” influence the exact shape Hola takes when it gets here.
“A large high pressure area east of New Zealand will help contain Cyclone Hola.
“If the high pressure had shrunk a bit, or moved a bit further east, Hola would have taken a more easterly path to New Zealand.
“If the high-voltage lines rise a little bit, expand a little bit, then that could push Hola further west towards the Tasman Sea side of New Zealand, to where there are more people.
“The severe weather is mainly near the centre; further out it’s just normal clouds, wind and rain.”
Details will be fine-tuned over the weekend as the storm approaches.
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