The category four storm Cyclone Hola is packing winds of up to 230 kmph and is expected to intensify to 250 kmph as it passes New Caledonia later today.
Information is still being gathered about the extent of damage to the northern island group from Tropical Cyclone Hola, the head of Unicef in Vanuatu says.
Heavy seas hit a road on Pentecost during Cyclone Hola. Photo: Twitter/ Dan McGarry
The system, which made landfall on Vanuatu yesterday, is currently a category four storm, and is expected to intensify.
It is expected to spend the night from Friday to Saturday very near the Loyalty Islands and bring winds of up to 85 km/h to parts of New Caledonia's main island Grande Terre on Saturday.
Unicef's Andrew Parker said communication in Vanuatu was fractured following the cyclone, but it appeared homes and crops had been affected on the islands of Malekula, Ambrym and Ambae.
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MetService said that it was too early to be certain about the track of this system as it passes over New Zealand waters but "a number of the global weather models are indicating that it could pass near the upper North Island on Monday".
"As the cyclone moves closer to New Zealand and over colder waters, it will undergo transformation into a mid-latitude depression but will still have strong winds and heavy rain associated with it."
Mr Parker said the National Disaster Management Office was co-ordinating the assessment and response to the disaster and the fact the government issued a red alert warning on Wednesday indicated it was taking the situation seriously.
He said, at this stage, there had been no reports of any casualties and people were more aware of how to stay safe after their experience of Cyclone Pam three years ago.
"We're hopeful that the use of traditional materials and the work that's been done by the government and their partners post TC Pam in terms of preparedness have equipped the families on the ground fairly well."
Mr Parker said Unicef had some staff on Ambae and the agency would contribute to the cyclone response effort once it has met with other agencies and the Vanuatu government to formulate a plan.
Hola is now moving away from Vanuatu in a southwesterly direction, but will curve to the southeast.
Forecasters say Hola is a small system and is expected to rapidly lose strength as it enters colder waters to the south.