Hastings man ready to face Cyclone Debbie

A Hastings man is sitting tight in his Whitsundays apartment in Queensland, evacuation bags at the ready, 500m from the red zone as Cyclone Debbie rages outside.

Neville Chapman, his partner and her son are in the top storey of an apartment block in Cannonvale, near Airlie Beach. Houses just a few streets in front of them were evacuated earlier today.

Debbie is currently a category three system, but was expected to reach category four, with wind gusts of up to 260km/h and damaging storm surges that could cause significant flooding.

Mr Chapman, who moved to Australia two years ago, had prepared by filling the bath with water in case the sewerage system was wrecked, bringing the BBQ inside for cooking when the power was out and packing away food, water, clothes, cash and essentials for a quick departure,if need be.

Meanwhile in Hawke's Bay Dixie Chicks fans are optimistic that the weather will be favourable when the American country music band plays at the Mission Estate on April 8.
With the long-range weather forecasts for this weekend looking reasonably good, many are harbouring the notion that weather tends to run in seven-day cycles.

"Oh, I wouldn't go with that," MetService forecaster Andy Best said when that forecasting angle was broached.

Mr Best said Hawke's Bay was caught up in the typical "changeable season" and the earliest stage they would likely have a fairly strong idea on how April 8 would turn out was at the end of the coming weekend.

It was a "complex" spread of low pressure systems currently around the country which had brought the rain in, and while there would be an easing of it today showers were set to return, and increase, tomorrow.

But from there on things were looking good with sunshine returning on Thursday along with temperatures in the mid-20s as the main low edged southeast off the North Island.
"Although there is another low approaching off the Tasman," Mr Best said, adding that meteorologists would be watching its progress accordingly.

Mr Best said he would like to put the minds of the estimated 20,000 people holding tickets for the Mission Concert at rest but at this stage could not.

It was a case of "wait and see".