18 Feb 2009

Tropical cyclone Innis is moving away from New Caledonia

6:42 am on 18 February 2009

A tropical cyclone has developed off New Caledonia.

New Zealand's Met Service says winds associated with Tropical Cyclone "Innis" are not too strong at this stage.

The lead forecaster for the Met Service, Mads Naeraa, says tropical cyclone Innis is moving southwest and away from New Caledonia.

"Its now not near any islands but it is moving towards the southwest with around 40 knots near the centre and 34 knots upto 150 nautical miles away from the centre."

Mads Naeraa says the tropical cyclone is not too threatening at this stage.

He says the largest land mass in line is Norfolk Islands.