Second tropical cyclone developing west of Cyclone Gita

  • 11/02/2018
Sheraton Resort
Sheraton Resort flooded. Photo credit: Facebook/Austin Toala

A potential second tropical cyclone is developing to the west and northwest of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

If it develops, the new cyclone would be named Tropical Cyclone Hola. 

This comes as a New Zealand emergency management adviser has been sent to Samoa, following damage caused by Cyclone Gita.

Tropical Cyclone Gita was upgraded to a severe category three storm on Saturday, as it wreaked havoc across Samoa, causing widespread flooding and forcing hundreds to flee their homes.

Gita is likely to strengthen further as it crosses the Pacific, with WeatherWatch predicting it will grow to a category four storm some time on Sunday.

NZ Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi says there is concern about the storm tracking towards Niue later today.

WeatherWatch says Gita is now much more powerful than recent Cyclone Fehi, which flooded homes and damaged roads across the north and west of the South Island last week.

While WeatherWatch says it is still too early to know if Cyclone Gita will directly impact New Zealand, they are keeping a close watch.

"As of Saturday night, it was looking increasingly likely that it would come into the New Zealand area around next Sunday or Monday," the organisation said in a statement.

"This may still change - it's not locked in."

Newshub.