The outer bands of Tropical Cyclone Atu continuing to push high cloud over the upper North Island this morning reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The latest oceanic warning by the crown forecaster says that Atu remains a cyclone with the air pressure at 945hPa.

The cyclone is as wide as New Zealand is long (over 1500kms across) and this morning it continues to dwarf the North Island as it begins its 48 journey past the country.

Atu is not going to hit New Zealand with all forecasters and models agreeing it will pass well to the east of the North Island – but it’s no doubt a close call for North Islanders.

As of 3:30am Thursday Atu’s centre was 650kms north east of Cape Reinga, 750kms north east of Auckland and 780kms NNE of East Cape.

Atu dwarfing the North Island Wednesday evening – but will pass well to the east of NZ / Google Earth

Information on the system is a little more sketchy at this latitude, as it leaves the Fijian authorities and moves into MetService’s area of responsibility.  However unlike Australia and Fiji, New Zealand’s government forecaster doesn’t provide tracking or specific maps and updates on tropical systems outside of their marine forecasts and normal weather charts.

WeatherWatch.co.nz instead turns to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii for the latest information.

The JTWC says by 7am NZT Atu will be a category 2 cyclone with winds averaging 100km/h gusting 130km/h.

However Atu’s “tropical cyclone” status will soon no longer apply with Atu currently in the process of becoming extra-tropical – meaning he’s losing his warm core and is developing into a more “typical” low that we’d see around New Zealand fuelled by cold conditions. 

However cyclone Atu still remains a serious storm that is causing rough seas around the eastern North Island.  The main issue will be dangerous rips along our eastern beaches – especially dangerous with sunny, hot, calm weather at many North Island beaches over the next two days and beachgoers perhaps not realising what is happening out to sea.

People who are heading to the beach on Thursday and Friday from Northland to Bay of Plenty and from Friday to Sunday from East Cape and Gisborne to Hawkes Bay are advised to be aware of dangerous rips. 

This brief video explains what rips look like and what to do if you get caught in one.

Latest map from the JTWC shows Atu losing its cyclone status at a similar latitude to Cyclone Wilma, but much further east – sparing New Zealand from destructive winds and flooding.