Brace yourself!
Storm bears down on holiday hotspots
Check your emergency kits, the Red Cross has urged, as much of New Zealand prepares to be lashed by severe weather today and tomorrow. The nation’s north is braced for a subtropical storm bringing heavy rain, gales, and potential coastal flooding to most of the North Island.
Strong onshore winds mean king tides today and tomorrow, coupled with waves the size of a doubledecker bus, pose a threat to many low-lying communities.
At risk are all north-facing bays in Auckland, coastlines from Northland to the Bay of Plenty and Firth of Thames and, from tomorrow, the North Island’s west coast.
The storm is on track to hit the top of the North Island this morning, sweeping across the island before hitting northern and eastern regions of the South Island tomorrow and clearing the country on Saturday.
Niwa warned that the approaching storm bore similarities to ex-Tropical Cyclone Ita, which struck at Easter three years ago. It inundated coastal communities across the upper North Island and blew buildings to pieces on the South Island’s West Coast.
The storm is expected to peak early tomorrow, Weatherwatch.co.nz head analyst Philip Duncan said.
The worst of the winds could become hurricane force — 120km/h — for a time at the centre, although such winds would stay mainly at sea.
MetService expects up to 160mm of rain will fall over Mt Taranaki and the Nelson and Bay of Plenty ranges.
Coromandel is expecting 150mm and Northland 120mm, while Auckland is in line for up to 90mm, with torrential downpours this evening.
Campers in coastal areas and flood plains have been told to move to higher ground, with waves up to 7m high expected to hammer North Island coastlines tomorrow.
Residents in flood-prone areas such as the Hauraki Plains have also been told to gather supplies and be ready to evacuate.
Waikato Regional Council regional hazards team leader Rick Liefting said the rain would coincide with a king tide tonight, hindering the ability of fast-flowing coastal rivers to run out.
“Combined with dry catchments there is the real potential for localised flooding and coastal inundation.”
Hauraki District Council Civil Defence controller Steve Fabish said people should have supplies ready in case they are cut off. “They should also put some prior thought into where they might self-evacuate to, such as friends and family.”
New Zealand Red Cross disaster response manager Andrew McKie said people should have a “getaway bag” with food, water, a radio, torch, wet-weather clothes, sturdy footwear and personal items.
Pills, medical equipment, pet food and a lead should be ready to go. Digitise photos and important documents or store them up high in plastic, and don’t leave dangerous chemicals on the ground, McKie said.
Know how to get to high ground, fill the car with petrol and plan where to meet family in an emergency.