Cyclone Hola: Strong winds up to 120km likely to hit the Bay of Plenty

The possible tracks of Tropical Cyclone Hola. Photo/Supplied

A strong wind warning has been issued for the Bay of Plenty as Tropical Cyclone Hola moves towards the north of the North island.

Cyclone Hola was expected to lie east to northeast of Northland about midnight before tracking southeastwards on Monday and lying east of Gisborne early Tuesday. After that it was likely to move away from new Zealand.

The Metservice said Hola would bring with it severe gale force winds and heavy rain on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday and could cause coastal inundation for the Western Bay of Plenty.

The strongest winds were expected in the Bay of Plenty, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne and a strong wind warning was in force for these areas.

According to metservice, gale southeasterlies would develop in the Bay of Plenty on Monday morning before turning into gale southwesterlies late on Monday afternoon or early evening. Gusts of wind could reach up to 130km/h in exposed places with winds easing overnight Monday.

The heaviest rain was expected to fall in Northland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne, where a heavy rain warning was in force.