Auckland Emergency Management has warned that people should not wait for official instructions to evacuate if they feel their life or property is in immediate danger.
“Listen to your gut instinct and go,” duty controller Adam Maggs said in today’s emergency management update.
Auckland’s mayor is also urging people across the region to get prepared ahead of this afternoon of severe stormy weather that forecasters warn could see flash flooding and slips.
Wayne Brown said this is the last thing Aucklanders need right now after two major storms caused widespread caused damage and claimed several lives.
As of 11am, around 500 families and businesses remained without power across the Auckland region, including customers at the west coast beaches.
It comes as the region sits under a severe thunderstorm threat, with torrential downpours already falling to the north of the city and in the Hauraki Gulf.
“Aucklanders are strong and resilient. Check on friends and whānau, and reach out to those who have already been impacted by severe weather events and need our help most.”
To give people an idea of the rain potential floating around, our weather station at Marsden Point near Whangarei recorded 24.6mm in one hour between midday and 1pm. There is currently a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in the Kaipara, Rodney area https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 ^SG pic.twitter.com/w1Os15BF2I
As well as this, Auckland Emergency Management said work on the demolition of the historic Shot Tower in Mount Eden is well underway.
“The middle tube going through the tower has now been removed and focus has now shifted to the removal of the rest of the frame.”
Mayor Wayne Brown urges Aucklanders to remain calm and vigilant, as the region braces for more heavy rain and thunderstorms. There is the potential for periods of localised heavy downpours, which means there is the potential for flash flooding and further land instability.
MetService has issued updated heavy rain and severe thunderstorm watches for much of Auckland this afternoon.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Kaipara and Rodney.
MetService said severe thunderstorms had been detected near Mangawhai and Te Arai and would be accompanied by very heavy rain.
The main risk is between about 1pm and 10pm today, starting in the north (north of Warkworth and Helensville), then spreading southwards in the late afternoon and evening.
MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey told the Herald that western and northern parts of Auckland will be hit this afternoon and into the night, and central Auckland will also get a lashing in the evening.
The severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula, from 9am to 10pm today as localised storms could produce downpours of 25 to 50mm/h.
A heavy rain watch is also in place until 1am on Saturday.
“Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain,” MetService reported.
“The main risk is between about midday and 10pm today, but the risk could start on Great Barrier Island this morning.”
— MetService Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) February 23, 2023
Auckland Emergency Management said Piha Rd will be closed to everyone other than residents and emergency services from midday today by a cordon at Lone Kauri Rd.
Bethells Rd will be closed to all road users from 7.30am to 5pm today so the section of the road that has been washed out can be repaired.
The agency said it will reopen for residents for about 15 minutes from midday and will continue throughout the weekend until the work is completed.
“These cordons will be staffed 24/7 until the roads are reopened and it is important that those who are not residents do not try to talk their way through.”
The cordons were in place for several reasons including to avoid putting stress on infrastructure and public facilities such as water and toilets, as well as to avoid causing distress to residents who are still coping with the aftermath of the cyclone, they said.
“We urge Aucklanders to help by continuing to stay away from areas that are cordoned off. We also anticipate a large number of visitors to the region this weekend, so it is important these messages are passed on to them as well.”
Great Barrier Island has already seen some downpours this morning, with rain rates 20+ mm per hour.
Torrential downpours have already hit Great Barrier Island this morning and MetService said there may be land instability around the region and there is a risk of new slips.
“Stay away from existing landslide areas. Stay away from any cliffs, particularly coastal cliffs and around waterways. If you live in an area that is at risk of landslips and flooding, have a plan in place and put together a grab bag,” the agency Tweeted.
He said the rain band is then moving south and by the time Aucklanders wake up tomorrow it should be gone.
However, Hawke’s Bay is set to experience the brunt of the severe weather and there are currently heavy rain warnings in place for the region.
Auckland has already seen floods this month. Photo / Dean Purcell
MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said they had received advice from GNS Science that we can expect new landslips and for existing landslips to happen again.
”They could push out into further spaces. So they’re saying to anyone near landslips to take care.”
The best advice, she said, was to move to a safer place.
Rain warnings would carry through until at least tomorrow morning.
People should also note that streams and rivers in cyclone-affected regions may have changed course and will therefore move differently, Murray said.
”If you need to get out of there - it’s wise to do so,” she told TVNZ’s Breakfast show. Locals are urged to keep a close eye on regular weather updates and advice from authorities.
Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz told the Herald this morning that she was worried about the weather causing more flooding and slips on an already fragile roading network.
”We don’t need this.”
Stoltz said the teams were keeping a close eye on the weather conditions across the region.
”Tokomaru Bay was evacuated safely yesterday. No issues have been reported overnight regarding the debris dam.
”We are asking residents to be prepared. Let us know about flooding or any other issues the council needs to be aware of.
”There are no further evacuations planned. We are just waiting for this weather to pass.”
State Highway 5 Eskdale rail tracks after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Paul Taylor
Yesterday it was announced a swathe of Auckland’s West Coast beaches are shut to the public this weekend, with roads to popular seaside destinations compromised amid warnings that heavy rain could re-activate slips.
Access to Karekare, Piha, Te Henga-Bethells Beach, Muriwai, Anawhata, Huia, Little Huia and Whatipu had been compromised by Cyclone Gabrielle, said Auckland Transport chief engineer Murray Burt.
He asked the general public to stay away from these areas and limit any additional pressure on the communities by trying to visit them at this time. Burt said at the request of Piha community, Piha Rd would be closed this weekend to everyone except residents and emergency services, from midday on Friday.
“A cordon will be set up. Repairs have started on Bethells Rd, we ask non-residents to stay away while the repairs are underway so we can minimise as much traffic on the road as possible.
“From today the main works at Bethells Beach have begun, which means only pedestrian access for residents will be permitted. This will be in place for seven days while we work to reopen full access to Bethells Beach Rd.”
