Holidaymakers across Coromandel Peninsula have been warned to head home or risk being stranded ahead of an intense five-day storm set to slam the North Island summer hotspot.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council posted an urgent message on social media on Wednesday ahead of the approaching storm, saying the potential impact is set to be worse than initially forecast.
Heavy rain and strong winds are hitting holiday hotspots including Bay of Plenty.
At the same time, Waikato Regional Council is bracing for the deluge with flood response teams “monitoring” rainfall and river levels across the region.
Campers are being warned to find somewhere secure or head home as the Coromandel Peninsula faces a prolonged storm. Photo/ Alan Gibson.
This morning, MetService issued a severe weather warning for the peninsula with 24 hours of heavy rain, including torrential downpours tomorrow morning. The rain is expected to start falling from 3pm.
The region is also under a strong wind watch, with northeasterlies expected to be gale force in exposed places.
“Residents and holidaymakers are urged to make plans and act today before heavy rain and increasing gale-force, northeasterly winds arrive from late this afternoon,” the Thames-Coromandel council posted on Facebook.
Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler strongly advised everyone to err on the side of caution, and plan ahead to Sunday.
Campers have abandoned holidays at beachside campsites in Coromandel and Northland ahead of a storm hitting. Photo / Alan Gibson.
“While there is still some uncertainty, five more days of northeasterly wind and rain on the Coromandel is likely to have a wide impact.
“So, we urge you to consider going to a safe, secure location, or even heading home today until the storm passes.
“The accumulation of rain by Saturday could see surface flooding, slips, road closures and power issues, so it is worth hatching a plan today to ensure no one is stuck or isolated,” said Towler.
“It’s a prolonged rain event for the Coromandel Peninsula, and may result in streams and rivers rising rapidly, as well as surface flooding and slips,” warned the Waikato Regional Council.
The council said ahead of the approaching storm teams would be checking flood infrastructure in and around Te Aroha to ensure it was unaffected by this morning’s earthquake.
“At this stage, it appears all regional flood and drainage infrastructure is operating as it should,” said the council.
It was also advising people to secure any loose items now with winds set to ramp up across the region from 6pm, and last 24 hours.
This afternoon many holidaymakers appeared to have heeded the warning with a steady stream of traffic leaving the peninsula over the last few hours, while others headed to supermarkets to stock up ahead of the storm.
Holidaymakers Karen and Arthur Keane of Howick were among those departing the Coromandel in their campervans. The couple were two days into a rally and said half those attending the event had decided to head home, cutting their trip short by five days.
Mercury Bay Business Association chairwoman Lynda Grant said it was understandable that campers should be warned, but she questioned advice aimed at bach owners.
“Prior to this weather, things were going really well, and it’s disappointing that the advice is given to go home. There’s been a huge amount of people in Whitianga up until now, and all those that have been struggling were hoping for a good summer. The hope is the bach owners will be back, at least for Anniversary Weekend.”
A number of weather warnings have been issued for parts of the North Island as heavy rain and strong winds with the Government forecaster today upgrading several weather watches to warnings in Auckland, the Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty and the Tasman area.
A strong wind orange warning has been issued in Auckland - including Great Barrier Island - effective from now until 3am tomorrow.
People are being advised of “severe gale” northeasterlies gusting up to 110km/h in exposed places of the city.
Such high winds usually see warnings for motorists on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Motorists are being urged to take care in Auckland, where unusual northeasterly winds could cause damage to trees, powerlines and unsecured structures.
The weather authority has also issued heavy rain warnings for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Matatā and Tasman northwest of Motueka.
The bad weather conditions have already resulted in campers abandoning their summer beachside camping holidays in the Far North and on the Coromandel after strong winds left tents and gazebos damaged.
The Summer Haze festival in Auckland and UB40 concert in Tauranga are cancelled, but Nelson’s Bay Dreams is due to go ahead tomorrow.
