Cyclone Hola has rapidly intensified overnight and is now a Severe Category 4 cyclone according to the Fiji Met Service.

The storm is still strengthening and will likely peak on Friday where it may reach Cat 5.

This weekend Hola starts to track south to south east towards New Zealand.

By Sunday winds, dangerous coastal conditions and even rain may be impacting some parts of northern New Zealand with Hola potentially brushing East Cape on Monday more directly. It’s still early to be precise about this Sunday and Monday – here’s the latest best thinking as of Thursday.

Our next video update will be on Friday around noon and we hope to have a more concrete update as it will be our last video update until Monday. (We will be providing extensive maps, graphics and news updates this weekend).