Cyclone Hola downgraded but still tracking towards NZ

Tropical Cyclone Hola is still tracking towards the top of the North Island but has been downgraded to a Category 2.

The Fijian Meteorological Service reclassified the cyclone at 3pm Fiji time today.

The cyclone is moving towards New Zealand and Metservice New Zealand will take over forecasting responsibilities on Sunday.

The cyclone which battered Vanuatu yesterday is due to hit the North Island on Monday and Tuesday.

Meteorologist Brian Mercer from Metservice said the downgrading of the cyclone meant little for how it would impact New Zealand.

"By the time it gets to New Zealand it is not a tropical cyclone and it gets tied up by the mid-latitude winds and jetstreams which is where it draws its energy from."

"It has weakened but it will still be a significant storm."

Earlier today Weatherwatch NZ analyst Philip Duncan said the storm looked set to weaken further from New Zealand than Gita and Fehi did.

Wind damage is still possible but the intensity of the storm could lower further the earlier it transitioned into an ex-cyclone, he said.

A lot of "moving parts" were influencing the exact shape Hola would take when it arrived here.

"Helping steer Cyclone Hola will be a large high to New Zealand's east.

"If this high shrinks a little, or moves eastwards a little, it will allow Hola to take a more eastern track to New Zealand.

"If the high grows a bit, expands a bit, then that could push Hola further westward towards the Tasman Sea side of New Zealand, and therefore more populated places.

"The severe weather is mostly around the centre; further afield it's just normal cloud, wind and rain."

The exact details would be fine-tuned over the weekend as the storm neared.