Cyclone Jasmine continues to slowly weaken this morning but remains a severe Category 3 cyclone with winds averaging 150km/h and gusting to around 200km/h.

The Fiji Met Service predicts that by tonight the storm will have winds of 120km/h which will drop it to a Category 2 cyclone.

Earlier this morning the air pressure had filled in further, up from 955hPa yesterday to 961hPa today.

As Jamine runs into more unfavourable weather conditions she is slowing down her movement.   The storm is still tracking south-south-east but has slowed its movement to 14km/h down from 18 yesterday.

Jasmine is weakening as it runs into higher air pressure and tracks over slightly cooler waters.

Modelling predicts that the cyclone will weaken this weekend and by tomorrow it will start to move more easterly, halting its advancement on New Zealand.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says Jasmine is unlikely to impact our weather but swimmers should be aware of hidden rips at our northern facing beaches this weekend from Cape Reinga to East Cape.

Image / Fiji Met

– WeatherWatch.co.nz