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New Zealand’s first tropical storm of 2023 is expected to wreak more havoc across the North Island early this week - and there are fears heavy rain could batter Gisborne and Coromandel from tonight.
MetService said people should keep up to date with forecasts as more severe weather warnings and watches will be issued for weather associated with Cyclone Hale closer to the time.
A heavy rain watch is in place for Gisborne and the Coromandel from Monday evening until Tuesday night, where rainfall amounts could exceed warning criteria, MetService said. More rain is Auckland expected to hit Auckland in the coming days.
MetService’s latest models predict Cyclone Hale will hit the Coromandel Peninsula before travelling to the Waikato, through Taupō and hooking back towards Hawke’s Bay.
Thames-Coromandel District civil defence controller Garry Towler says the eastern seaboard in particular was in for a hammering early this week.
“We are not sugar coating this one, it will hit hard and likely cause coastal damage as well as the usual slips, surface flooding and power outages”.
Cyclone Hale is expected to move south as a subtropical low on Tuesday, bringing severe weather to parts of northern and central New Zealand on Tuesday and Wednesday. Check for Warnings and Watches at https://t.co/HZ2TSD5rV7pic.twitter.com/OCgCSHpsaf
Another ex-tropical system will dump more than 230mm of rain in 24hrs with easterly gales and gusts exceeding 110km/h, impacts will be felt from Monday evening, peaking during Tuesday and passing through by Wednesday afternoon, the Thames Coromandel District Council said in a Facebook post on Sunday evening.
The Council’s coastal scientists forecast storm surges of up to 30cm or more above the three high tides over this time.
“The main areas of concern are erosion and inundation at Brophy’s and Buffalo beaches in Whitianga, erosion and structure damage across beaches all the way down to Whangamatā,” said Towler.
“Everyone on the Coromandel, especially on the eastern side needs to stay up to date and be somewhere safe by Monday night, ready to ride this out for at least 24hrs,” Towler said.
Torrential rainfall and flooding had caused many issues to roads in the Coromandel area. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Cyclone Hale was located southwest of New Caledonia at midday on Sunday and is expected to approach the northeast of the North Island on Monday and Tuesday.
It will then likely pass southwards over or near the eastern North Island on Wednesday, before moving away to the east.
Auckland was sitting on 20C on Sunday evening, after MetService recorded up to 29C at its weather station in Ardmore. Humidity levels sat about 90 per cent before a drop in the afternoon and a return to 87 per cent this evening, MetService forecaster Sonja Farmer said.
The city is set for a 26C day on Monday with showers possible in the morning before rain develops in the afternoon.
Fresh severe weather watches were also issued across the bottom of the North Island on Sunday, causing Cook Strait ferry services to cancel sailings and Gisborne’s wastewater system to overflow.
A fresh heavy rain watch was issued for Wairarapa and the eastern hills of Wellington until 7pm on Sunday.
Rainfall in these areas may also approach warning criteria, mainly about the hills and ranges, says MetService.
Gisborne District Council on Sunday morning posted on Facebook that 40mm of rain fell in the city overnight, resulting in the wastewater system being flooded.
“To prevent sewage from overflowing back into homes and onto roads, causing a significant potential health risk on properties, the emergency sewer valve at the Gladstone Road Bridge was opened at approximately 10pm Saturday 7 January into the Tauranganui River.”
Although the discharge was highly diluted with rainwater, the council is advising no swimming, fishing or gathering shellfish in rivers or nearby beaches until at least five days after the valve is closed and warning signs are removed, due to there being a risk to health.
Periods of heavy rain were also expected to fall in the ranges of Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua District until midnight Sunday.
Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria in these areas, especially south of the Napier-Taupo Road.
MetService said heavy rain was expected to return to the Hawke’s Bay region on Tuesday. It’s likely a warning or watch will be issued for this next period of rain closer to the time.
In the Coromandel, traffic congestion continued on SH25 to Te Rerenga as a temporary speed restriction of 30km/h remains in place after a slip earlier in the week.
