Possible cyclone may head our way

A storm brewing northwest of Fiji could become a tropical cyclone.

According to the Fiji Meteorological Office, TD09F ‘‘has potential to further intensify’’.

However, our MetService yesterday advised that the weather system had a low chance of becoming a tropical cyclone. Those odds would increase from later today.

It is expected to continue deepening today and tomorrow with a moderate chance of it becoming a tropical cyclone.

The storm’s most likely path will bring it close to southern Vanuatu tomorrow before it begins to move southeast.

The Fiji Sun newspaper warned readers ‘‘there is a high chance of rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres in 24 hours’’.

‘‘With the ground already saturated, the risk of flash-flooding and flooding of low-lying areas is very high in the coming days, especially in areas of localised heavy rainfall.’’

A MetService spokesman said: ‘‘From Friday onwards, the system is looking like it might move into New Zealand waters. However, it looks like it will be downgraded to an extratropical time it gets here.’’

Extra-tropical cyclones are capable of producing conditions that range from cloudiness and mild showers to heavy gales, thunderstorms and tornadoes.

‘‘Later in the week, the current situation looks like there will be a ridge of high pressure extending across New Zealand and this is likely to force the system to take a south-east track ... so at this stage, it doesn’t look likely to have any direct impact.’’

However, the Kiwi weather forecaster was still uncertain where the storm would track and system by the how it would evolve.

Meanwhile, closer to home, today should be mostly fine over the west of the North Island. Cloudy periods with a few showers are predicted elsewhere.

Tomorrow will likely be damp in the North Island as most districts experience rain. Strong southerlies are forecast for the Wellington region, possibly reaching galeforce strength.

South Island residents should prepare for morning rain, though the skies should later clear, leaving behind isolated showers.

Rain is predicted for most of the North Island on Thursday.