Cyclone Gabrielle is inching towards the North Island causing power outages, large waves, fallen trees. Video / NZ Herald
As the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle move down the country, an orange strong wind warning is in place for the Manawatū district with east to southeast forecast.
It’s anticipated that gusts may reach up to 120km/h.
This could cause damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures. Driving could also be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Manawatū District Council says it and Horizons Regional Council will be keeping a close eye on the Rangitīkei, Ōroua and Pohangina rivers, as an orange heavy rain warning is in place for the Ruahine Ranges, with between 250mm and 350mm of rain forecast.
The Manawatū District Council says it advises people to take precautionary measures in preparation for Cyclone Gabrielle. It’s projected that the peaks of the Ōroua and Pohangina rivers will occur in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with the Rangitīkei River expected to peak by 8:30am.
Rangitikei River. Photo / Bevan Conley
The council has closed the following roads overnight from approximately 9pm and will reassess the situation on Tuesday morning:
1. Hoihere Rd from the corner of Lockwood Rd and Main Drain Rd
3. Raumai Reserve Bridge from Pohangina Rd to the intersection of Pohangina East Valley Rd and Churchill Rd
4. Churchill Rd Bridge from Pohangina Rd to Pohangina East Valley Rd.
People who are camping at Londons Ford, Bartletts Ford, Almadale Reserve and Vinegar Hill are advised to move towards higher ground and avoid camping near rivers or streams for the next 48 hours. The council says it has had staff visit these locations today and they have passed this advice on to people.
Meanwhile, Horizons Regional Council says its emergency management staff are preparing for the possible impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle as the system works its way down the country.
Horizons incident controller Craig Grant says the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) has been activated as staff plan for a range of scenarios.
“There are currently orange rain and wind warnings for the region that are in place from this evening through until tomorrow afternoon,” he says.
“There could also be sea surges on both the east and west coast. While these elements haven’t arrived yet and may not eventuate to the extent that they’re predicted, we are taking a cautionary approach with planning to keep our communities safe.
“From a rain perspective, it’s currently looking like the majority will fall in the Tararua District and Ruahine Ranges. However, this rain could impact the Rangitīkei River, Pohangina River and wider Manawatū catchment as well.
“At this stage we aren’t expecting any river issues within the Ruapehu, Whanganui and Horowhenua catchments. However, all districts in the region are expected to experience gale force winds which may result in trees falling and power outages.
“We highly recommend people take the time to secure outdoor items, prepare for power outages and have a plan in case there is a need to leave home in a hurry. It’s also worth following your city or district council on social media for more localised information and updates.”
Grant says duty officers will be putting plans in place for the rest of the day and monitoring the situation overnight.
“This includes pulling contractors and equipment out of river sites, stabilising riverbank works, going over flood action plans, checking drains and pumpstations, preparing for flood barriers to be installed, and staying in regular contact with our peers at city and district councils.
“We have also serviced and tested the Moutoa and Makino floodgates to ensure they are fully operational if required, including if there are power outages.
“While we hope that our region doesn’t experience the full force of Cyclone Gabrielle, we want to reassure the community that we are prepared to act if required. We’ll look to provide another update in the morning once we have a better idea of what has actually occurred.
“Finally, even though temperatures may remain warm we’d like to remind people to stay out of rivers when it’s been raining and not to enter floodwaters as they should be treated as contaminated. Stay safe and check in on friends and whānau.”
Up-to-date information on river heights and rainfall is available via Horizons 24-hour toll-free Waterline 0508 4 FLOOD or via www.horizons.govt.nz.
Updates will also be posted to the Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence page: https://www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwhanganui/
For sandbag queries please contact your local city or district council and stay tuned to your local radio stations for another option for civil defence updates.
Palmerston North City Council says it’s expecting high winds and heavy rain in Palmerston North from Monday evening.
It has shared a list of things to do to ensure families are prepared:
have enough food and water for three days (including for your pets)
secure your trampolines, outdoor furniture, take down shade sails etc
pop your bins in your garage or in a sheltered spot
on Tuesday, please only place your rubbish and recycling out if you really need to and make sure your bin clip is secure on your wheelie bin. Don’t put them out on the kerb overnight as the high winds will likely see them blown over.
check on your neighbours and family members who are elderly, alone or vulnerable
drive to the conditions - slow down in heavy rain and strong winds
check the outside drains on your property and on your street aren’t covered in leaves or stones. Put on some gloves and pop the debris in your bin. “When drains are clear it means water can flow into them easily which helps them get into our underground pipes faster. While our teams have been clearing many of our stormwater drains they can’t get to all of them, so please pop out and check your street.”
