Sub-tropical Storm set to hit NZ 4th January 2018

[JennyLeez]

 A sub-tropical storm with hurricane-strength winds is taking aim at New Zealand. The weather will pack up today before the storm makes landfall tomorrow.

The storm is on track to hit the top of the country tomorrow before sweeping down the country, affecting all the North Island and the north and east of the South Island.

Heavy rain is expected to drench Northland and Auckland tomorrow before spreading across the island. Potentially destructive winds are expected to barrel across the North Island for days.

Waves up to 7m high are expected to hammer all North Island coastlines.

more:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11968834








More Maps here at weatherwatch.co.nz

http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/severe-storm-rapidly-form-it-approaches-new-zealand-tomorrow-11-maps

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[TokWW]

Thanks Jenny!

[JennyLeez]

Issued by MetService at 10:35am Thursday 04-Jan-2018

Heavy rain and gales across northern and central New Zealand Thursday and Friday

A very rapidly deepening low approaches New Zealand from the north Tasman Sea today, and to lie the west of the North Island tonight then move southeastwards across central New Zealand on Friday.

This significant deep low spreads moist and strong winds over northern and central New Zealand, delivering heavy rain and strong winds to these areas.

The heaviest rain is expected in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne, Mount Taranaki, Tongariro National Park, the Tararua Range, Marlborough, and Nelson. WARNINGS for heavy rain are now in force for these areas.

The strongest winds are expected across the upper North Island, from Taranaki and Taihape to Bay of Plenty northwards, and a WARNING for severe gale northeasterlies is now in force for these areas. Please note, the combination of strong winds and high tides could cause coastal inundation about eastern areas from Northland to Bay of Plenty including the Firth of Thames.

The deep low crosses central New Zealand on Friday bringing a period of northwest severe gales to the central and upper North Island, and gale southeasterlies across the upper South Island. This low should then move away to the southeast of the country on Saturday.

People should keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case other areas are added to the WARNING.
Heavy Rain Warning
Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

Area: Northland
Valid: 12 hours from 9:00am to 9:00pm Thursday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy for a time from Thursday morning until Thursday evening. Expect 80-120mm of rain to accumulate about the northern and eastern hills during this time, while 50-80mm of rain may accumulate elsewhere. Peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr possible, especially in the afternoon.

Area: Auckland including Great Barrier Island
Valid: 13 hours from 11:00am Thursday to 12:00am Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy for a time from late morning to midnight tonight (Thursday). Expect 70-90mm of rain to accumulate during this time, especially about the Hibiscus Coast, and the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges. Peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr possible, especially late this afternoon and evening.

Area: Coromandel Peninsula
Valid: 12 hours from 1:00pm Thursday to 1:00am Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy for a time from early this afternoon to overnight Thursday. Expect 90 to 130mm of rain to accumulate during this time, especially about the ranges. Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm/hr, especially from this evening.

Area: Bay Of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne north of Ruatoria
Valid: 14 hours from 4:00pm Thursday to 6:00am Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy for a time from Thursday afternoon to around dawn Friday. Expect 100-150mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges, especially the ranges, while 70-100mm of rain may accumulate elsewhere. Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm/hr possible.

Area: Tongariro National Park
Valid: 27 hours from 6:00pm Thursday to 9:00pm Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy at times from early this afternoon to late Friday evening. Expect 120-150mm of rain to accumulate during this time. Peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr.

Area: Mount Taranaki
Valid: 24 hours from 3:00pm Thursday to 3:00pm Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy at times from middle this afternoon to Friday afternoon. Expect 150-200mm of rain to accumulate during this time. Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm/hr.

Area: Nelson
Valid: 12 hours from 9:00pm Thursday to 9:00am Friday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy at times from this evening to mid-morning Friday. Expect 120-180mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges west of Motueka, while 50-80mm of rain may accumulate elsewhere. Peak intensities of 25-35mm/hr, especially about the western ranges.

Area: Marlborough including the Kaikoura Coast
Valid: 27 hours from 9:00pm Thursday to 12:00am Saturday
Forecast: Rain is expected to become heavy at times from this evening to midday Friday. Expect 120-160mm of rain to accumulate about the Kaikoura Ranges, while 80-110mm may accumulate elsewhere, especially the Richmond Range. Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm/hr possible.

Area: Tararua Range
Valid: 12 hours from 10:00am to 10:00pm Friday
Forecast: Rain may become heavy from late Friday morning to late Friday evening. Expect 90 to 120mm of rain to accumulate during this time. Peak intensities 15 to 25mm per hour.
Strong Wind Warning
Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Area: Northland
Valid: 7 hours from 3:00pm to 10:00pm Thursday
Forecast: From late this afternoon to this evening (Thursday), northeasterlies are expected to become severe gusting 120 km/h in exposed places. Strong to gale northwesterly winds are also expected from tonight to early Friday morning.

The combination of strong winds and high tides may also cause coastal inundation in eastern areas.

Area: Auckland including Great Barrier Island
Valid: 25 hours from 5:00pm Thursday to 6:00pm Friday
Forecast: During Thursday evening, northeasterlies are expected to become severe gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.

The combination of strong winds and high tides may also cause coastal inundation in eastern areas including the Firth of Thames.

Also northwest gales gusting 120 km/h in exposed places are also expected Friday morning through to early Friday evening.

Area: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay Of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Taranaki, Taihape
Valid: 22 hours from 8:00pm Thursday to 6:00pm Friday
Forecast: From this evening until around dawn Friday, northeasterlies are expected to become severe gusting 120 km/h in exposed places, then strong north to northwesterly winds are expected from mid-morning Friday to early Friday evening, severe gusting 120 km/h in exposed places, especially from Taupo westwards.

The combination of strong winds and high tides may also cause coastal inundation in Coromandel and Bay of Plenty including the Firth of Thames from this evening to Friday morning.

[JennyLeez]

 At least 2000 homes are in the dark today as wild weather hitting the North island today, line faults and at least one vehicle crash cut the flow of power.

Vector has reported properties throughout Auckland suburbs like Newmarket, Mount Eden, Silverdale, Waiheke and Maraetai have all lost power as a result of weather extremes.

Glen Eden properties are the latest in a string of suburbs to lose power.

Vector report the incident happened on Glengarry Rd at 8.35pm with crews expected to have finished repairs by midnight.

 Crews are also working to restore power in Te Atatu South that went out at 8.20pm – power should be restored by 11.30pm.

Further south, parts of the Bay of Plenty have also lost power.

Hundreds of homes in Mamaku, near Rotorua lost power about 4.45pm. The Unison website states 379 customers were initially affected, with the final 53 in Amoore Rd, Cecil Rd and Maraeroa Rd expected to be restored by midnight.

At least 200 homes in Tauranga are currently without power, in the suburbs of Ohauiti and Hairini.

At least 900 properties lost power at some stage this evening in Tauranga and Te Puke.

Strong wind gusts are often the main cause of power cuts as winds can damage power lines directly or indirectly causing vegetation and other debris to blow into lines Vector spokesman Matthew Britton said.

Four-hundred-and-twenty properties in the Maraetai area lost power after a vehicle collided with a power pole.

As a result, the 12.5m pole needs replacing, Britton said.

"The standard time for a pole replacement is six hours, however this can be affected by weather conditions."

Meanwhile, many residents and business properties throughout Newmarket and Mount Eden have been without power for the afternoon.

Vector were called to the outages at 12.40pm with repairs still under way at 7.50pm when this was written.

A fault on the Waiheke network also caused a power outage today that affected around 1100 people - the fault is expected to be unrelated to weather.

Britton said crews were remaining on standby as the bad weather continues in Auckland throughout the night.

"Vector's response crews and storm management teams are on standby and we are actively monitoring the latest advice from MetService and our own data on network performance."