Cyclone Dovi to hit, bringing heavy rain and gales
Cyclone Dovi is forecast to sweep across the North Island today, bringing gales, heavy rain and big waves to many areas.
Latest models last night put the cyclone on track to make landfall in the Waitomo area, between Taranaki and Waikato.
It sparked a slew of wind and rain warnings from Auckland to the upper South Island last night, MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam said.
“This is an evolving situation so I think the message is for everybody just to keep an eye on our forecasts and just take heed from what the local authorities are saying.
“You wouldn’t be going out in a boat on the [North Island] west coast with the swell warnings and 50-knot winds if you had any sense.”
It’ll be another warm day for Aucklanders, with a high of 28C. The city has been sweltering in humidity all week — and even the zoo animals appreciated a chilled treat as heat settled like a damp blanket.
Auckland and Taranaki are under orange level wind warnings with gales gusting possibly up to 130km/ h today. Wind watches have been issued for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato (from Kāwhia Harbour to around Te Aroha northwards), Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Tasman and Buller till late afternoon.
Taranaki residents are also in for a drenching this morning, with 130-220mm of rain expected about Mt Taranaki as Dovi passes.
Heavy rain warnings have also been issued for much of the central part of the country — Taupō south of Tūrangi, the bottom of the North Island and the top of the South Island.
In Wellington, where anti-mandate protesters will be entering their sixth day camped on Parliament’s lawn, a miserable day is on the way, Bellam said.
“We’ve got rain with heavy falls, gale southerlies gusting 110km/h and a forecast maximum temperature of 17C . . . it’ll feel colder though with that rain and wind.”
Tomorrow signals a welcome weather change for many, with a cooler southerly flow bringing relief from humidity.