Updated 11:56am NZDT —- Cyclone Niran in the Coral Sea is now a severe Category 3 storm.

Since Monday the cyclone has been hugging the Queensland coastline but over the next day it will start to pull away, potentially quite fast, to the south east and towards New Caledonia.

Australia’s risks diminish over the next day.

New Zealand has low risk for this cyclone too, despite the tracking taking over NZ waters. High pressure in the Tasman Sea area coupled with a powerful southerly this weekend over NZ should keep Niran well to the north.

NIRAN Outlook:

• It will move southeastward from Thursday while strengthening its power.
• The peak of development will be before approaching New Caledonia on Friday.
• Only Vanuatu will be strongly affected by indirect effects such as heavy rainfall before approaching & after passing the TC (It is already covered with significant rain-bands outside the TC).

NIRAN Impacts –

• Australia, NZ: No threat
  
• New Caledonia…see full details below…

– Rain: Heavy rain is expected from Friday night to Saturday evening.
– Wind: Gale is expected from Saturday dawn to Sunday dawn.
– Sea state:  High condition is expected from Saturday afternoon to Sunday before noon (also especially, very high condition is expected from Saturday late night to Sunday morning).

• Vanuatu: Heavy rain is expected from Friday morning to Saturday evening. See more details below…

– Rain: Heavy to very heavy rain is expected until Saturday night (especially in the northern island, i.e., an area relatively far from the TC’s forecast track).
– Wind: Gale is possible from Saturday night to Sunday dawn.
– Sea state:  High condition is expected from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.