Severe Tropical Storm heads to New Caledonia

New Caledonia is on high alert as it braces for the arrival of a category five tropical storm later today.

Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Niran has sustained winds of over 200 kilometres per hour and is moving towards New Caledonia at 43 kilometres.

Julian Leduc who is a forecaster with the New Caledonia Weather Office told Radio NZ that the system is 230 kilometres west of the far north of New Caledonia.

Leduc says its forecast to cross to the main island during the morning, and later today to the southern part of the island.

Heavy rain associated with the cyclone may impact Vanuatu.

[Source: RadioNZ]