Wild weather: Power outage warning with heavy rain to hit Auckland and much of the North Island

Auckland residents are cautioned to prepare for power outages ahead of predictions that the region could see 25mm of rain in one hour, something that has not been recorded in three years.

MetService warns that high winds and heavy rain on Wednesday could cause trees to topple over power lines and cause power outages in the area, according to Vector.

Rain is already falling on Auckland and the NZTA urges motorists to be especially careful as the wet weather sets in after a two-car collision on the Auckland South Highway near the Mount Wellington entrance ramp right before 5 pm.

The crash is blocking the northbound right lane near the Mt Wellington entrance ramp.

Auckland Transport also warned of heavy congestion on the central bus network tonight due to wet weather.

He said that a large number of bus services were affected, including Link services, and that travelers should expect delays and possible cancellations.

The low over the Tasman Sea is expected to hit parts of the North Island starting tonight and Wednesday and could bring thunderstorms and cause flooding in some areas, according to MetService.

There are heavy rain warnings in the Bay of Plenty and Taranaki north of Eltham, with 80-100mm of rain expected to accumulate in inland areas from 1am to 7pm on Wednesday.

There are also heavy rain alerts for the Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato.

MetService meteorologist on duty Aidan Pysleman said it would rain heavily in Auckland tomorrow and there was also a risk of thunderstorms over the upper North Island.

There was also expected to be up to 25mm of rain in an hour, which would be the biggest fall since April 2017.

Vector has additional response teams and storm management teams on standby, so they are ready to respond quickly if needed.

The network’s head of field services vector, Marko Simunac, said the spring weather was very
unpredictable.

“So we want to make sure Auckland locals are prepared in case of disruptions.
strong winds damage power lines, our goal is to restore power as quickly as possible, while ensuring the safety of our crews and the public. “

The Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency is also urging Bay of Plenty motorists to stay alert and watch for surface flooding, slipping and downed trees or branches.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO BE PREPARED

• Always stay away from downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment.

• Watch out for falling tree limbs as they can damage power lines.

• Avoid possible damage to electrical appliances (in the unlikely event that there is a
increase when power is restored) by turning off the appliances at the wall.

• Keep a flashlight and spare batteries on hand and make sure you have at least one
telephone that does not depend on electricity for its operation.

• If you have one, make sure your electric vehicle is charged.

• Make sure there is always an alternative fuel available for cooking (eg barbecue gas).
If you have an electric garage door, prepare how you can get into the garage.
otherwise so that you have access to your vehicle.

Source: Vector