Northland braced for the worst

PROTECTION: Whangarei District Council contractors work to protect the Sandy Bay toilet block and surf club against Cyclone Pam. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Boaties are seeking shelter in marinas around Northland as Cyclone Pam swirls across the Pacific Ocean and is forecast to bring severe gales, heavy rain and 4m swells.

Civil defence officials are warning Northlanders to take precautions such as securing heavy objects, avoiding unnecessary travel and keeping a close eye on weather forecasts.

Yesterday work was being done at Sandy Bay by Whangarei District Council contractors to protect the toilet block and surf club against the cyclone.

Contractors excavated sand, laid down geotech fabric and put rocks in place in an attempt to stop erosion from the surging tide.

Minh Thu Peclard was one of the many boaties securing their mooring at Whangarei Marina yesterday.

"We just have to double the lines to be sure everything is fixed," Mrs Peclard said.

American yachtie Mark McClellen said he was not sure how severe the weather would be but was taking the warnings seriously.

"I'm saving my indoor projects for Sunday or Monday," Mr McClellen said.

While the Whangarei Marina was full and unable to take on more boats, Marsden Cove Marina already had eight extra boats berth in the last 24 hours with more likely on Sunday.

Bay of Islands Marina, at Opua, had already reached capacity as a result of vessels seeking refuge from the cyclone. "We've accommodated as many as we possibly can," marina manager Chris Galbraith said.

There was some uncertainty as to how close to the North Island the eventual cyclone track would be, however, it had the potential to be a significant event, MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths said.

As of yesterday evening it was a category five cyclone located to the east of Vanuatu, though was expected to be downgraded to a category four before nearing New Zealand.

Severe gales and heavy rain were expected in Northland from Sunday evening and into Monday, she said. It is possible rainfall would exceed warning criteria which means more than 80mm in 18 hours.

"One of the other impacts likely for the eastern Northland coastline is a heavy northerly swell," Ms Griffiths said. "This is forecast to reach 4m late Sunday, and briefly peak at 6m on Monday."

Northlanders should secure heavy large objects or anything that could be potentially dangerous, Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group spokesman Graeme MacDonald.

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