The remnants of a Category 3 tropical cyclone tracking towards northern New Zealand could also bring “significant” rain and wind to Hawke’s Bay this Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, currently west of Fiji, with winds around the centre in excess of 150km/h, is forecast to move south towards the country, bringing the risk of heavy rain, strong winds and large swells to parts of the North Island.

MetService meteorologist John Law said Hawke’s Bay was among the regions to “keep a close eye on” as the system approaches.

“For places like Hawke’s Bay, particularly on Sunday, there’s a good chance of some heavy rainfall and also some stronger winds to watch out for,” he said.

Law said the system was still several days away, meaning its exact track and impact remained uncertain.

“There’s still some variability in where it may run, which may impact different areas differently,” he said.

At this stage, no watches or warnings have been issued for Hawke’s Bay, but Law said that could change later in the week.

Despite the uncertainty, he said the system was expected to be a “significant feature”, with the potential to bring a period of unsettled weather into early next week.

Forecasts for Sunday in Napier and Hastings currently show rain developing, with easterlies strengthening and temperatures ranging between 15C and 22C.

Law said residents should stay informed and keep an eye on updates at the Severe Weather outlook as the situation evolves.

“It’s always a good idea to think about what could happen if the weather goes bad,” he said.

He recommended visiting the Getready website for information about preparing for severe weather, and downloading the MetService app allowing notifications for the latest severe weather warnings in the region.