Tie down the trampoline and secure the rubbish bins before you leave the house - strong winds and a chance of tornadoes are on the forecast today.
Aucklanders are being warned of severe weather early this morning, as a strong wind watch is in place over much of the North Island - including Northland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo and the Bay of Plenty west of Pāpāmoa.
The MetService says people can expect "damaging winds" around the city, with a peak wind strength from about 9am onwards before that eases late in the day.
"If there are thunderstorms around, the wind could get stronger and even small tornadoes are possible," the weather authority said.
One positive aspect about the rain is that it has brought more much-needed water to Auckland's dams.
An update from Watercare today said the dams were now 56.5 per cent full - up from 56.08 per cent yesterday. The normal rate at this time of the year, however, is 80.7 per cent.
Ferry services affected
All ferry services to and from Rangitoto Island have been cancelled today due to bad weather.
People hoping to catch the ferry anywhere else are being told to keep a close eye on alerts as there could be delays.
"Please be advised that there are severe weather warnings today...due to high winds forecast," a Fullers alert said.
A tornado causes havoc on a property in Franklyne Rd in Otara on June 27. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Workers assess the damage at a bathroom supply store in East Tāmaki after a tornado ripped through on Saturday, June 27. Photo / Hayden Woodward
The wild weather comes just over a week after a number of tornadoes ripped through parts of the country on Saturday, June 27, including in parts of South Auckland.
People in Papatoetoe, East Tāmaki and Ōtara, in particular, were left picking up the pieces after trampolines and roofs were lifted and properties damaged.
A temperature high of 13C is on the cards for the City of Sails and an overnight low of 8C.
Gusts of up to 110km/h forecast in Auckland
Winds gusts of up to 110km/h are expected in exposed parts of the city and there will be frequent showers - possibly heavy and thundery.
Just before 6am, the windiest place in the country was Auckland's North Shore - with gusts of up to 52km/h recorded.
Fire and Emergency NZ reported no weather-related call-outs last night.
A Coastguard spokeswoman said they too had a quiet night, but that they had been monitoring the Manukau Harbour area, which had seen winds suddenly pick up to 69 knots - about 127km/h - just after 5am.
Auckland is also on notice for possible power outages.
Strong, possibly damaging, winds are expected in Auckland & Northland on Wednesday 💨
A heavy snow watch is in place for Taihape, when snow is expected to lower to 600m - with a period of heavy snow about 800m - between 2pm and 9pm today.
"Snow amounts may approach warning criteria above 800m," locals are told.
Today's wind event visually looks similar to the 2018 April storm that slammed Auckland - but there are some noticeable differences which reduces risks. pic.twitter.com/IIRXIISA0B
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) July 7, 2020
Road snowfall warnings
Several road snowfall warnings are in place around the country and motorists are encouraged to keep a close eye on weather conditions and road updates before venturing out.
The affected roads are: The Napier-Taupō Rd, Desert Rd, Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Porters Pass, Lindis Pass, Crown Range Rd, Milford Rd and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway.
An update at 8.35am, from the NZ Transport Agency in the Central North Island, said snow was falling on both SH1 Desert Rd and SH5 Napier-Taupō Rd and that the Central Plateau is expected to get heavier snowfall this afternoon and evening.
The Napier-Taupō Rd is expecting to get snow showers near the summit from late this afternoon.
"Between 5pm to 9pm, 1 or 2cm of snow may settle on the road above 700m," the MetService says.
The Desert Rd is set to get "significant amounts" of snow today. Between 2pm and 9pm, 5 to 10cm of snow may settle on the road above 800m, with lesser amounts down to 600m.
- Auckland: Temperature high 13C, overnight low 8C. Frequent showers, some possibly heavy and thundery. Strong westerly winds gusting 110km/h in exposed places. - Kaitaia: 14C, 10C. The same conditions, but strong westerly winds gusting up to 90km/h. - Whāngārei: 13C, 8C. Frequent showers, some possibly heavy and thundery, easing in the evening. Strong westerlies gusting 90km/h. - Tauranga: 13C, 3C. Showers, possibly heavy and thundery, easing in the evening and clearing at night. Strong westerlies, possibly gale gusting 90lm/h. - Hamilton: 11C, 0C. Frequent showers, some possibly heavy and thundery, easing in the evening and clearing at night. - Gisborne: 13C, 3C. Cloudy periods. Rain from late afternoon as northwesterlies change brisk southerly. - Napier: 13C, 2C. Partly cloudy to start. Rain from late morning as northwesterlies change strong southwest, clearing at night. - Palmerston North: 10C, 2C. Rain, easing towards evening. Light winds, gusty southwest developing from midday. - Wellington: 10C, 5C. Showers increasing morning with strong southerly change, gale gusting 90km/h in exposing places for a time. Showers easing late afternoon. - Nelson: 11C, 0C. High cloud. Southwesterlies developing this morning. - Christchurch: 9C, 2C. Mostly cloudy. Showers morning and evening with snow lowering to 400m. Brisk southwesterlies. - Queenstown: 7C, 1C. Occasional snow showers, with brisk southwesterlies. - Dunedin: 7C, 4C. Showers, with snow for the higher hill suburbs. Strong southwesterlies.
