Cyclone Pam will bring wind and 8m swells for North

Northland will be the first region in New Zealand to feel the effects of Tropical Cyclone Pam with winds of up to 198km/h and eight-metre-high seas predicted for the region's east coast.

The category-four tropical cyclone with winds of up to 198km/h was to the east of northern Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands yesterday and was expected to be upgraded to category five about 7am today.

However, it was likely to revert to category four once it moved closer to Northland and the rest of New Zealand late Sunday.

"At this stage Northland is likely to get the full trifecta of impacts- damaging seas along the eastern coastline, gale to severe gale southeast winds, and the possibility of heavy rain," MetService weather forecaster Georgina Griffiths said.

She said seas along the eastern coastline were forecast to reach five metres late on Sunday and could rise to eight metres on Monday - the worst day for Northland.

Cloudy periods with few showers were predicted for Northland tomorrow and showers would turn to rain with southeast winds strengthening on Sunday.

Ms Griffiths said Cyclone Pam packed more wind and rain than Cyclone Lusi that hit Northland about this time last year.

"Pam is bigger and has a deeper system whereas Luci had wind only, not rain.

"Southeasterly winds historically tend to be very damaging for places such as Whangarei and southeasterlies will blow over Northland on Sunday and Monday," she said.

People should secure items likely to blow away and those living in flood-prone areas like Kaeo should remain alert for rising waters, she advised.