As WeatherWatch.co.nz exclusively forecast earlier this week Cyclone Winston has ramped up into a “Severe” Tropical Cyclone, putting it Cat 3 or above.  The cyclone is now a Category 4 cyclone, which will increase the chances of more dangerous beach conditions reaching New Zealand. Earlier this week Fiji officials said Cat 2 was the likely limit.

However the cyclone itself is likely to actually swing back north, after tracking south, so it poses no direct threat to New Zealand.  However this swing back north in a few days may impact Tonga – and help set up very humid airflow down into New Zealand later next week.

Winston has central air pressure of 947hPa this morning and has sustained winds of 175km/h and is still strengthening, expected to get 185km/h today, with gusts well over 200km/h.

Meanwhile Tatiana remains a Category 1 cyclone in the Coral Sea and should lose it’s cyclone status this weekend.

-Fiji Met

– WeatherWatch.co.nz