Surge warning
The public and boaties are being warned to stay out of the water and away from beaches across Hawke’s Bay until Wednesday, as the region faces the potential double whammy of tsunami and cyclone after-effects.
The Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (HBCDEM) issued the advisory yesterday.
HBCDEM group controller Ian Macdonald said the combined impact
of Cyclone Cody in Fiji and the eruption of underground volcano HungaTonga-Hunga-Ha’pai in Tonga meant there was a real safety risk.
“We are advising people to move out of the water, refrain from boating and stay off beaches and shore areas until Wednesday.”
He said that included avoiding harbours, rivers and estuaries.
“Cyclone Cody is tracking further to the east then initially forecast and the risk of strong winds and significant rain for Hawke’s Bay has
reduced, however it is likely that the region’s coastline will experience significant waves and hazardous sea conditions from this storm from today through Tuesday.”
There is no need to evacuate any residential areas.
“The large volcanic eruption in Tonga has resulted in some minor tsunami activity along the Hawke’s Bay coast with strong and unusual currents of up to half a metre in Napier and unpredictable surges observed on tsunami gauges. This threat must be regarded as real until the advisory is cancelled.”
Dangerous swells and rips were expected from yesterday through to Tuesday.
Surf Lifesaving NZ search and rescue manager Allan Mundy had said: “If you want to watch the waves go up the hill or stand across the road”.
A MetService spokesman said the ocean along the Hawke’s Bay coastline would be dangerous, with breaking waves expected to rise to a minimum of 4m.