The first cyclone of the season is forming in the Pacific and is expected to be named on Sunday.
A tropical low has "rapidly deepened" near Vanuatu and the Solomons this weekend with the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) declaring the storm has reached tropical cyclone status, and has the potential to be a Severe Category 4 Tropical Cyclone.
"The storm will affect the northern and possibly central islands of Vanuatu and the eastern side of the Solomons," JTWC said in a statement, however it added the "strength, timing and tracking are still not locked in".
JTWC lifted the risk of a cyclone forming within the next 24 hours to high on Saturday evening - after a low risk just 12 hours earlier.
"Those in Vanuatu and the eastern Solomon Islands should keep up to date with local authorities over the coming hours and days."
The cyclone is forming 10 days earlier than the official cyclone season starts (November 1 to March 31) and Fiji Met Service said we can expect more details later Sunday.
Any threat to New Zealand?
According to WeatherWatch, El Niño tends to put more high pressure between New Zealand and Australia which becomes "an invisible brick wall in the sky", making it harder for the tropical cyclones to reach us.
"It is possible the leftovers of this tropical low may track into or near NZ - but please remember sea temperatures are only just past their very coldest of the year at our latitude, so we are not expecting a tropical storm," it reassured.
"We'll be monitoring any possible impact to the New Zealand area later this coming week."
They said at this stage, modelling shows the storm "falling apart" as it makes its way out of the tropics and becomes a "fairly weak sub-tropical low".
Weather Watch acknowledged those who have been affected in the North Island's storms and floods earlier this year, adding that "anxiety levels and PTSD are real for many".
"For now, the focus on this storm is very much on the potential issues for northern and central Vanuatu and the eastern Soloman Islands."
