Rain lashes Auckland's Queen Street. Photo / Steven McNicholl
Rain lashes Auckland's Queen Street. Photo / Steven McNicholl
• A severe weather watch is in place across NZ • Holidaymakers have been drenched in rain • A storm sweeping down from the North could trigger flash flooding and slips • NEW YEAR 2016 IN PICTURES: Celebrations around the world
Heavy rain and strong winds are lashing the North Island, causing chaos for campers and prompting warnings for boaties and motorists.
A storm sweeping down the country is expected to bring up to 200mm of rain to Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel today, with severe weather forecast for the rest of the island this afternoon and tomorrow.
The MetService says the weather could could trigger flash flooding and slips, especially in low-lying areas.
"Heavy rain warnings and wind watches mean there is potential for flooding and damage, so campers and holidaymakers should check and secure their camping and outdoor equipment, and be ready to move quickly if required," said Auckland Civil Defence director John Dragicevich.
"Whilst this is a precautionary warning, there is some nasty weather coming and we urge people to be prepared to act quickly if the storm gathers more momentum," he said.
The weather wasn't so great for campers in Hahei. Photo / Vittoria Nevin
Coastal roads like Tamaki Drive could be affected by wave splash around high tide this afternoon. "Surface flooding may make driving difficult so ... please drive to the conditions."
He said surface flooding was likely across Auckland, with the potential for more serious flooding in Great Barrier and Whangaparaoa.
A weather warning was in place for Northland, Coromandel and Auckland, with a "watch" for the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Kapiti, Horowhenua, Wellington, Wairarapa, Nelson and Marlborough.
Boaties in the worst-hit areas are advised to check moorings or anchors, and stay off the water. Drivers are urged to take caution.
The foul weather has been triggered by a low-pressure system that is dragging air down from the tropics.
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said humid tropical air was the recipe for wet, muggy days.
Some campers are already reporting damage with holidaymaker Stuart Beattie describing his spot near Waipu Cove, just south of Whangarei, as "carnage".
Langs Beach in Northland. Photo / Billie Richards
Mr Beattie, who had been sleeping in a two-person tent at the Department of Conservation campsite, told Newstalk ZB that when he woke up and poked his head out of the tent, "everything had gone to pieces" outside.
"I'm sitting in my car at Uretiti Beach just north of Waipu and it's just carnage - I woke up about an hour ago in a pool in the tent.
"The storm hit about 3am so a few people started battening down the hatches but it's all chaos here at the moment - there's people that arrived here yesterday, their tents are just rubble on the floor."
Campers should be wary of bad weather. Photo / Jessica Ellsmore
He said his tent was blown over, but bigger ones fared even worse.
The ground at the site was sandy, meaning gusts of wind blew out tent pegs overnight.
He said it was likely to cause campers to leave early, despite "a lot of people who wanted to be here to the third or fourth".
Rain on Queen Street in Auckland. Photo / Steven McNicholl
"That's what we were planning, but now it's home time."
Campsites in the Coromandel have seen a mass exodus overnight, with many leaving as soon as the warnings came through to avoid the nasty weather.
At Waikawau, on the east coast, campsite manager Rachael Gaul said yesterday they had 1100 in tents, and now there was only about half that left.
Campers trying to cook their breakfast in Hahei. Photo / Vittoria Nevin
"A lot of people are leaving. The rain started this morning and so far we've had no flooding but it will get rough," she said. "It's very disappointing but luckily many people were planning to leave today or tomorrow anyway, and the weather until now has been really fine."
At Stony Bay, further north, campsite manager Terry Byrne said they only had 20 hardy souls left.
"We had about 370 before New Year's Eve. But after we went around and told everyone about the warnings yesterday, they all decided to leave."
He said the campsite could be tricky in the wet, as it had a ford in the middle which could rise rapidly.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council was also warning campers to be careful. It said there was a report of a power cut in Whangamata this morning.
Rainy new years day weather in Russell, Bay of Islands. Photo / Kate Owens
Over in Russell, Angela Armitage of Orongo Bay Holiday Park said the site had been spared the worst of the weather and reported the campers were happy and staying put.
"Russell is the most sheltered area in the Bay of Islands," she said.
"We've had no issues with tents or wind or anything."
She said there was no surface water on the campsite grounds and although some light rain had started to fall, the sun was visible through the cloud.
"You can see the sun through the clouds, so we're feeling very optimistic."
Kate Owens has been camping in Russell for the last week and said the Orongo Bay Holiday Park was "significantly emptier" today than it had been earlier in the week.
"The campground is kind of half-empty now. We're in a cabin luckily, otherwise I think we would have left."
Ms Owens said rain earlier today had left her so wet she felt like she'd taken a shower fully clothed, but that the weather seemed to be clearing.
"It's actually stopped raining right now and all the birds are chirping."
A low lying northwest of New Zealand is expected to spread a broad rain-band over the North Island today (Friday), then over the upper South Island on Saturday, before cool southerlies spread over the country on Sunday. This rain-band is preceded by strong to gale easterlies, which are likely to affect northern parts of the North Island. The heaviest falls are likely about Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, where a warning is in force.
Areas where a warning is in force:
Northland
Periods of heavy rain are expected to ease Saturday evening. In the 39 hours from 9am today (Friday) until midnight Saturday, expect 150 to 200mm of rain to accumulate in northern and eastern parts, on top of what has already fallen, with over 100mm possible in remaining areas. Peak intensities of 25 to 35mm per hour in localised downpours. Note, showers still likely from Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island
Periods of heavy rain are expected to ease Saturday night. In the 39 hours from 9am today (Friday) until midnight Saturday expect 130 to 180mm to accumulate, mainly north of the Bridge and about the Hunua Ranges, with lesser amounts elsewhere. Peak intensities of 25 to 35mm per hour in localised downpours. Note, showers still likely through Sunday morning.
Periods of heavy rain are expected to ease Sunday morning. In the 42 hours from midday today (Friday) to 6am Sunday, expect 140 to 180mm of rain. Peak intensities of 25 to 35mm/h in localised downpours Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Areas where a "watch" for heavy rainfall, that may turn into a warning, is in force:
Bay of Plenty and Waikato: From this afternoon until Sunday afternoon.
Mount Taranaki: From Saturday morning until Sunday morning.
Kapiti Coast and the Tararua Range: From Saturday afternoon until late Sunday morning.
Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds: From late Saturday morning until late Sunday morning.
Easterly gales may become severe in Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Waikato until Saturday.
