[ad_1]
ANDY JACKSON / Stuff
Heavy rains are now falling in Northland and Auckland, but thunderstorms and strong winds are yet to come.
The weather system that is already drenching Northland and cutting power to some in the region is set to cause a pain in the tail when it hits Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty later on Thursday.
Heavy rain, thunderstorms and winds of up to 100km / h are possible, and New Zealand’s Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi, has warned it will “not hesitate” to close the Auckland Harbor Bridge if necessary.
Most of the upper North Island will be battered by wind and rain on Thursday, and MetService will post heavy rain warnings for Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula and later in the day in the Bay of Plenty.
MetService
MetService has issued a series of heavy rain advisories for northern New Zealand, but also for the western areas of the South Island.
The heavy rain warning has now been extended to Gisborne, which can expect up to 110mm of rain overnight on Thursday.
READ MORE:
* Weather: Heavy rain, strong winds forecast for Guy Fawkes Day in the north
* Motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles are urged to avoid the Auckland Harbor Bridge.
Heavy rains are also possible on Thursday in Auckland and further south at the headwaters of Canterbury, and are expected to continue in southwest Westland.
Paul shaw
Northland is still recovering from a flood in July. This photo was taken at the time by a member of the Whāngarei Flying Club.
A strong wind advisory was issued for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty on Thursday, with a forecast of northeast gales of up to 100km / h in exposed locations.
Bursts of that force could damage trees, power lines and unsafe structures, while driving could be dangerous, particularly for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, MetService said.
The system is tracking as expected, with steady rain falling over all of Northland in the past six hours, MetService meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree said Thursday morning.
Kerikeri airport had 47.4 mm of rain in six hours, he said. The region is still recovering from a flood in July, with State Highway 1 south of Kaitaia still closed due to slips.
GLENN JEFFREY / Things
It is now raining in Northland and Auckland, and much of the North Island is expected to be soaked. (File photo)
Some northern residents have also been hit by power outages due to the weather.
Approximately 1,500 customers in the wider Kaitaia and Broadwood areas have been without power since 11:45 am. Top Energy expects power to be restored at 2.30 pm
There is also a power outage affecting the Whangārei Heads area and a smaller number of people are affected by a power outage in Oneriri.
Northpower does not yet know when power will be restored in these areas.
As the system moves from south to southeast, thunderstorms are also predicted.
Now it’s raining in Auckland and wind gusts are approaching 80km / h in exposed parts of Auckland, like the Whangaparaoa peninsula, Crabtree said.
Wind gusts of 50 to 60km / h hit the Auckland Harbor Bridge and the gusts are expected to peak on Thursday afternoon.
NZTA is keeping an eye on the Auckland winds and advised high-sided vehicle drivers and motorcyclists to avoid the Auckland Harbor Bridge entirely.
NZTA Auckland System Manager Andrea Williamson previously advised motorists to plan ahead and allow additional time for travel on Thursday.
“Drive according to conditions, stay within your lane when crossing the bridge and stay within the speed limit,” he said.
RYAN ANDERSON / Stuff
NZTA (Waka Kotahi) warns that it will “not hesitate” to close the Auckland Harbor Bridge if Thursday’s winds are too bad.
“Safety is our priority, and we will not hesitate to close the bridge if necessary.”
Hurricane force winds on September 18 blew a truck into a prop on the Auckland Harbor Bridge, causing damage and rolling lane closures for several days.
The bridge was closed to traffic for a period on September 29 due to strong gusts of wind.
Meanwhile, the rain is expected to move south on Thursday and spread across the lower North Island starting in the afternoon, with occasional showers also reaching the top of the South Island.
The rains are also expected to turn to daytime rain in Otago and Southland, with some possible scattered showers in the afternoon in Canterbury.
Rain is forecast in Wellington starting in the evening, while Christchurch is expected to have a warm day with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
On Friday, the weather is expected to be more stable, with calmer wind and only rain forecast for the country, Crabtree said.
