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Wild weather has cut down trees, cut off power and could shut down the Auckland Harbor Bridge when a system hits the north of the North Island 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 110 millimeters of rain overnight Thursday, and thunderstorms are expected as the system moves south.
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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 that 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.
Parts of Northland have already been affected by power outages and tree damage.
Denise Piper / Things
A broken tree branch blocks part of the road in Helena Bay near Whangārei, one of many branches that collapse in the storm.
There are more than 500 customers in the Hokianga and Waimamaku area, and Top Energy expects it to be restored by 4pm.
Roughly 1,500 customers in Kaitaia and Broadwood were without power for a couple of hours.
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A power outage that previously affected the Whangārei Heads area now only affects Pataua South, while a handful of customers are affected by outages in Pukenui, Russell and Oneriri.
A large tree has closed a road in Ruakaka. The tree has blocked McEwan Rd, about 500 meters from the end of Marsden Point Road, and the Whangārei district council suggested that motorists take an alternative route.
Heavy rains have already hit Northland, MetService meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree said around 2 p.m. Thursday.
Kerikeri Airport had 74.8mm of rain on Thursday at 2pm, with 22mm falling in just one hour.
“It’s a pretty heavy dose of rain in a single hour,” Crabtree said.
GLENN JEFFREY / Things
Now it rains in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty and much of the North Island is expected to be soaked. (File photo)
“It’s very humid in that part of Northland.”
The region is still recovering from a flood in July, with State Highway 1 south of Kaitaia still closed due to slips.
It is now raining in Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, and wind gusts have exceeded 80 km / h in exposed parts of Auckland such as the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Crabtree said.
Wind gusts of up to 74km / h hit the Auckland Harbor Bridge and the gusts were 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.
“Safety is our priority and we will not hesitate to close the bridge if necessary.”
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.
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.
