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Strong wind alerts are in force across much of the North Island as an intense tropically-charged storm brings downpours, thunderstorms and gales across New Zealand.
The worst of the rain appears to have moved south from Auckland, with heavy downpours affecting the centre of the country this morning.
MetService has issued a Strong Wind Watch for Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Gisborne, Great Barrier Island, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Northland, Rotorua, Taihape, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Waikato, Waitomo, and Whanganui.
Two slips have come down overnight in Coromandel as a result of the bad weather.
Port Jackson Rd and Thames Coast Rd were closed after being left impassable to motorists.
Kohia Tce and Gillies Ave in Epsom have surface flooding after heavy downpours in Auckland overnight. Photo / Michael Craig
Torrential rain has led to fresh spots of flooding around central Auckland properties and creating hazardous conditions on the roads.
Kohia Tce and Gillies Ave in Epsom had been partially submerged underwater.
This morning’s rush hour is being hampered by heavy downpours across the city after a wild night of gales and rain.
Roads in Epsom are partially flooded due to heavy rain in Auckland overnight. Photo / Michael Craig
Some properties in Epsom have started to flood with residents seen trying to clear drains with shovels in a bid to avert a worsening situation.
From 4am until 7am today, speeds will be reduced and some lanes will be closed on the Auckland Harbour Bridge as strong winds gust through the city.
Those in large vehicles or motorcycles are being advised to take the alternate ring route as a safety precaution.
SH1 AKL HBR BRIDGE - STRONG WINDS Due to predicted strong wind gusts AKL Harbour Bridge will be operating with 4 lanes in each direction during this morning's peak travel period. Expect delays. Take extra care especially if you are in a lighter or high-sided vehicle. ^TP pic.twitter.com/1v9KTgv4iP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 18, 2023
And an early morning crash on the bridge is blocking the right eastbound lane.
Waka Kotahi has advised motorists to merge left with care and to expect delays.
SH18 UPPER HARBOUR MWY - 6:45AM A crash is blocking the right eastbound lane on Upper Harbour Bridge. Merge left with care to pass and expect delays. ^TP pic.twitter.com/4QHyX8eRav
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 18, 2023
⚠️💨Westerly #gales in #Auckland on Saturday PM may gust to damaging (risk of broken branches, uprooted trees, weather related power cuts).
This wind gust map shows the centre of the low tracking as far north as King Country/Waitomo, putting the squeeze on Auckland's westerly… pic.twitter.com/vgpqXDx6QV
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 18, 2023
Another round of downpours and stormy conditions loom this weekend as the top of the North Island awakes from another night of wild weather.
During the weekend, some regions are being asked to prepare for power outages as heavy downpours and strong gusts threaten to pull down powerlines.
Forecasting agency Niwa said an intense low was spinning over Tasman which meant the morning rainfall was giving way to odd showers with most in the upper North Island.
Many areas would see some sun and a decent evening, the agency said.
“Very strong gusts are likely tomorrow north of the centre, as it moves across the central North Island.”
Niwa forecast said the worst of the wet weather was expected to fall across the North Island overnight last night, so Northland, Auckland and Waikato should be wary of the aftermath this morning.
Although the front is fast-moving and won’t stall, which is what caused much of the destruction in the last extreme weather events, the short downpours are tropically charged, and heavy and may include some thunderstorms.
Atop already sodden soils, this could mean localised flooding, slips and power outages as strong gusts threaten to pull down trees on to powerlines.
From 7am, Gisborne will be placed under a heavy rain warning, where thunderstorms and localised downpours are possible, with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h, or possibly more. A strong wind watch is also in place.
Meanwhile, wild weather is hitting the bottom of North Island and the top of South Island with MetService saying those in Wellington could expect heavy rain for the most part of today.
In a tweet, it advised people to wear a raincoat if they were planning to go outside.
#Wellington - if you're about to head out the door and you haven't grabbed your raincoat, you may want to rethink that move...
A classic deepening extratropical cyclone showing the cinnamon scroll look on this afternoon's visual satellite. The water vapour image starting to display the infamous 'scorpion tail'. Pressure now down to 977 hPa & heading SE towards NZ. Tracking @ https://t.co/TVgMqeIhPOpic.twitter.com/Adw6bmuiv6
— Hauraki Gulf Weather (@GulfHauraki) May 18, 2023
The front is expected to move away out east from the country by noon today, however, the low-pressure system will hang around, tracking across the central North Island tomorrow.
This will mean strong gusts, massive swells and another round of rain for most regions.
“A period of westerly gales will also affect northern parts of the country on Saturday as the low moves eastwards across the central North Island,” MetService meteorologist Peter Little said.
“The gusty westerly winds and already sodden soil means people are advised to be prepared for power outages due to falling trees disrupting power lines
“Rain or showers are forecast for most places on Saturday, with the west of the North Island and Tasman region likely to be the wettest places.”
