Tropical Cyclone Hale, the first South Pacific tropical cyclone of 2023, has been named by the Fiji Meteorological Service. Thankfully, Hale poses no threat to Australia as it continues to track away from the mainland.  

The low-pressure system that would become Hale, started life over Australia, just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in the monsoon trough that has brought widespread flooding over northern Australia. Once it moved over waters off the Queensland coast, it started to intensify. In recent days, it steadily moved in south-easterly direction, whilst gradually strengthening in favourable conditions. 

Image: Track map showing Tropical Cyclone Hale's past movement, and the possible future track. Source: Fiji Meteorological Service 

Hale is expected to continue its south-east track during Sunday. On Monday or Tuesday Hale may take on a more southerly direction, though by this time it is possible that it is no longer a tropical cyclone as it moves over cooler water to the north of New Zealand. Hale is likely to transition into an extratropical cyclone, a low-pressure system which gets its energy from the interaction of hot and cold air within its core, as it enters these cooler waters. 

Those in New Zealand's North Island should keep up to date on the movements of Hale as the system may make its presence felt in this week, potentially bringing severe weather.