Cyclone Vaianu is still expected to be a "very large, damaging system" despite being downgraded to a category 2 cyclone.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats told Breakfast that the downgrade "doesn't change anything for us".
"It doesn't change the threat, it doesn't change the intensity, it simply changes the structure of it. It means it's not recieving that same tropical fuel that it was getting, so the characteristics change.
Yellow heavy rain watches and warnings issued previously for the entire North Island have now been upgraded to orange for many regions, with a red-level wind warning issued for Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island on Sunday morning.
Path of Cyclone Vaianu firms up as it barrels towards NZ - watch on TVNZ+
Keats explained that as the cyclone arrives and the effects became clearer, it would likely warrant the red-level warning due to the "multi-hazard event of this nature".
"This combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event" the forecaster said.
Keats said: "It could coincide with high tide, on Sunday for places like Whitianga, Whangamatā, that kind of area."
She warned of road closures, communities cut off and power outages for regions which had already been hit hard by severe weather over the last few years.
Keats said people often get fixated on the "eye" of the cyclone, but said this was "not the only problem".
"Some of the worst weather we experience with cyclones in New Zealand is actually hours ahead of that front arriving.
"So yes, that 'eye' if you like, is expected to hit over the top of the Coromandel, move over the Bay of Plenty and out over Hawke's Bay to that east over Sunday. But we're experiencing very, very heavy rain and strong winds hours ahead of that eye arriving."
NEMA urges people to prepare
NEMA's Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price outlined some of the 'critical' impacts, and urged people not to be complacent. (Source: Breakfast)
NEMA’s Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price outlined some of the “critical” impacts, and urged people not to be complacent.
“There’s going to be a number of components to the cyclone. It will hit hard, with a big impact on NZ. It will be significant, it will be fast, it will leave us in its wake."
He said there would be strong winds, downed trees and flooding from intense rainfall.
“We also know with a cyclone or ex-tropical cyclone, you’ll get the impact on the likes of the coast. We’re likely to see anywhere between 6m to 8m swells,” he said.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including fresh warnings about Cyclone Vaianu, and Melania Trump addresses Epstein rumours. (Source: 1News)
Asked to compare the intensity to Cyclone Gabrielle, he said the modelling was looking more similar to Cyclone Cook in 2017.
“It’s got a very similar track where it came through at the top of the North Island, came through the East Coast.
He said it was the “calm before the storm”, and urged people to take the time to prepare now.
Current watches and warnings
Strong Wind Warning – Red
Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island – 13 hours from 5am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Northland, about and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour – 12 hours from 9pm Saturday to 9am Sunday.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 12 hours from 2am Sunday to 2pm Sunday.
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne including Rotorua – 14 hours from 2am Sunday to 4pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay – 14 hours from 2am Sunday to 4pm Sunday.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Northland – 15 hours from 11pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday.
Auckland – 19 hours from 9pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday.
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Taumarunui – 12 hours from 10am Sunday to 10pm Sunday.
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua – 15 hours from 4am Sunday to 7pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and Taihape – 16 hours from 10am Sunday to 2am Monday.
Taranaki and Whanganui – 10 hours from 1pm Sunday to 11pm Sunday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland north of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour – 12 hours from 7pm Saturday to 7am Sunday.
Waikato – 15 hours from 3am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatāne – 15 hours from 6am Sunday to 9pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti about and south of Tolaga Bay, Hawke’s Bay ranges, and coastal hills south of Napier – 16 hours from 2am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki – 12 hours from 8am Sunday to 8pm Sunday.
Wairarapa, including the Tararua District, also eastern and southern parts of Wellington – 12 hours from 11am Sunday to 11pm Sunday.
Marlborough Sounds, including northeastern areas north of Kaikōura – 10 hours from 2pm Sunday to midnight Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Manawatū, Kapiti Coast and Wellington – 19 hours from 11am Sunday to 6am Monday.
Wairarapa, including the Tararua District – 21 hours from noon Sunday to 9am Monday.
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