MetService severe weather update: Monday 29 December. Video / MetService
Gale-force winds reaching 120km/h and torrential rain have started to turn campsites and festival grounds into bogs as the wild weather ramps up across the North Island.
An active low-pressure system is starting to move over the North Island today, disrupting music festivals, causing dozens of power outages anddowning trees.
Festival-goers in Gisborne at Rhythm and Vines, decked out in ponchos and gumboots, have been forced to wade through mud as the weather intensifies.
Other festivals across the country have had to hastily adapt to the challenging conditions. Matakanarama near Auckland advised attendees that its gates would open later today, and Highlife on Waiheke Island adjusted its site layout.
Aucklanders in high-sided vehicles and on motorcycles are being advised to take extra care on the Auckland Harbour Bridge as strong winds pose a threat, NZTA said.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald the high winds in combination with the rain will add another layer of concern for holidaymakers in the North Island.
“We’re looking at rainfall amounts [for Gisborne] between about 90 and 130 mm of rain,” Makgabutlane said.
“Today and tomorrow definitely look like our active days. There’s still some showers on the cards on Wednesday, and some possible thunderstorms,” she said.
MetService said an associated frontal rain band and strong easterly flow is also moving south over central New Zealand today and tomorrow, bringing a period of heavy rain and gale east to southeast winds.
Most of the North Island and the top of the South are now cloaked under a sea of orange weather warnings, impacting travel to and from major holiday and festival hotspots.
The Coromandel Peninsula remains under an orange heavy rain warning until 6pm today, while Gisborne/Tairāwhiti is under the warning until 3am tomorrow.
Bay of Plenty, about and east of Rotorua and Hawke’s Bay, are also under an orange heavy rain warning until the early hours of tomorrow.
An orange strong wind warning, which signals the threat of winds gusting up 120km/h, is also in place for several regions.
Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, and the districts of Buller, Grey and Westland north of Mount Cook are under the warning until 1pm tomorrow.
Most of the North Island and the top of the South are now cloaked under a sea of orange weather warnings. Photo / Givealittle
The Coromandel Peninsula is under the same wind warning until 3pm today.
Waikato, Waitomo, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupō, Tongariro National Park and Taihape are also under an orange strong wind warning until 9pm tonight.
Manawatū, Horowhenua, and the Kāpiti Coast are also under the wind warning until 9am tomorrow.
Bay of Plenty west of Rotorua, the Tararua District, Wairarapa and the Kaikōura Coast are under a heavy rain watch.
