Cyclone Wilma to rock north

Photo / Steven McNicholl

Parts of the upper North Island are in for a gusty weekend with exceptionally strong winds and possible flooding forecast as a cyclone moves past the country.

Tropical Cyclone Wilma is near New Caledonia and is due here late tomorrow night, the MetService says.

"It should sideswipe the northeastern parts of Northland on Saturday morning, then get pushed off to the southeast and sideswipe Gisborne on Sunday evening. Then it will move way off to the east of us," said MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt.

The MetService has issued severe rain warnings for Auckland, eastern Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne for tomorrow morning, saying slips or flooding are possible.

The heaviest rainfall is expected in Northland where 150mm to 200mm may fall within 24 hours. Mr McDavitt said the rain would be accompanied by gales.

"The cyclone has very tight isobars around it which makes the winds very strong."

Weather Watch chief analyst Philip Duncan said the upper North Island might have flooding similar to last Sunday's.

"Because it's a tropical storm it has very, very heavy rain which is not too good for the long weekend. And the winds will be gale force further north which is exceptionally strong ...

"But the good news is that when the winds pick up you know the rain's about to stop."

He said the cyclone would not affect the temperature and he has forecast between 24C and 26C for most of the upper North Island.

"The humidity may increase a little bit, but it won't get as bad as we've had recently."

Mr Duncan said the severe wind and rain would move off the country quickly with the promise of clear weather on Sunday and Monday.

"It's a quite a fast-moving weather system."