9 Feb 2018

Cyclone Gita moving towards Samoa, Niue

11:12 pm on 9 February 2018

Tropical cyclone Gita is moving towards Samoa and a cyclone alert is now in force for Niue, the New Zealand Metservice says.

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Photo: 123rf

Depression TD07F became a category one cyclone on Friday night and at 9pm was 735km northwest of Niue, tracking east towards the island at 17 km/hour.

It is expected to pass just to the south of Samoa tonight with gales affecting the country.

Close to the cyclones centre there was an average wind speed of 65km/hour, gusting to 90km/hour, the Metservice said.

Tomorrow afternoon in Niue, moderate easterly winds were expected to increase to strong with an average speed of 45km/hour and gusts up to 80km/hour, it said.

The wind strength was expected to increase further to damaging gale force on Sunday along with damaging sea swells.