11 Jan 2016

Cyclone Ula tracks towards NZ

4:12 pm on 11 January 2016

Tropical cyclone Ula has been downgraded and is continuing to weaken, but there is uncertainty about where it will track later this week.

Satellite image showing the location of TC ULA, as of 11am on Monday 11th January

Satellite image showing the location of TC ULA, as of 11am on Monday 11th January Photo: Metservice

Ula is now a Category Three cyclone as it moves in a south easterly direction, away from the Vanuatu group.

It reached Category Four level as it veered towards Vanuatu's south at the weekend, raising fears for vulnerable islands in Tafea Province which were still recovering from the devastation of last year's Cyclone Pam.

But aid agencies reported the islands have been left mostly unscathed.

Oxfam's country coordinator in Vanuatu, Colin Collett van Rooyen, said there were reports of minor flooding and damage to some food crops.

Ula also brought very high seas.

Range of possible future tracks for TC ULA (and later, ex-TC ULA) based on UKMO data.

Range of possible future tracks for TC ULA (and later, ex-TC ULA) based on UKMO data. Photo: Supplied / NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said Ula would be as close as 500 kilometres from Cape Reinga by the end of tomorrow and gradually weaken.

But she said it was not clear what will happen when it turned into an ex-tropical low and people should keep up to date.

"Especially those in northern areas of New Zealand and the north-west as well. Just keep an eye on the forecast because of the uncertainty. The weather that is going to come will be winds and rain, and in New Zealand, we're very used to those two."

Ms Murray said the coming days should bring a better idea of where the storm would head.

Most of the storm's wind and rain is expected offshore, but humid tropical air is tipped to bring some rain to northern areas tomorrow.

There are no severe weather warnings or watches at this time.

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