Cyclone on track to hit Fiji and Tonga next week

A tropical cyclone could hit Fiji and Tonga next Monday, but the high across New Zealand should keep it away boding for a mainly fine Easter weekend.

Earlier indications show the next cyclone, which would be called Cyclone Jo, might track from Fiji to Tonga and then open waters, according to private forecaster WeatherWatch.

The forecaster said although it was too early to confirm as it was still more than a week away, in the meantime there were three tropical storms messing with Australia this week.

The fourth, unconfirmed cyclone, was the one that would reach Fiji and Tonga.

Technology is great! This is an observation. It is satellite derived rain radar from @JAXA_en It allows us to understand rain falling over the ocean.

Note the heavy rain with developing #CycloneIris as well as lightning associated with weather systems in Tasman Sea. ~Chris pic.twitter.com/lvKlrg0I7v

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) March 25, 2018

WeatherWatch head weather analyst Philip Duncan said it was "fairly likely" the cyclone would firm, but he would know for certain by the end of the week.

The first cyclone, Cyclone Marcus, struck Darwin last week before tracking over the Indian Ocean. It has been downgraded to a storm bringing wind and showers into Perth and across South Australia on Sunday and Monday.

Cyclone Nora is bringing rain in northern Australia, while Cyclone Iris was sitting between Australia and Fiji and there was uncertainty if it would hit either country.

Duncan said there was inconsistency from local forecasters which showed it was a low-end tropical cyclone before weakening to a tropical low. There was also a chance Cyclone Iris could bring wind, surf and some brief wet weather to parts of the Queensland coastline, but would avoid New Zealand.

WeatherWatch chief analyst Philip Duncan says the forecast looks mainly fine for Easter, despite cyclones hovering nearby. Richard Robinson

"It may sit in this area for another nine days and not affect New Zealand at all due to a blocking high in our area."

Duncan said Kiwis could expect a mainly fine Easter weekend. The North Island could expect a few showers on Good Friday followed by mostly settled weather on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

"So we've got a big high coming in for the Easter weekend which is pretty cool, but in true Easter style there are a lot of storms just around us."