For some regions, the worst of the weather has already passed.
“The main bulk of rain has eased off Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne – the main intense band associated with the cyclone [has eased] but it’s still wet – showers and rain but the persistent rain as passed on as the storm has twirled around.”
But for Auckland, the movement of Cyclone Gabrielle means that gale-force southwesterly winds will today be pulled in from the Tasman.
Forecasters WeatherWatch have predicted that gusts hugging the Tasman Sea may exceed 150km/h, with 130km/h set to hit the city.
Overnight, there have been almost 900 storm-related callouts in the 12 hours to 4am, including 55 between 3am-4am - nine in Northland, 12 in Auckland, 12 in Waikato, three in Bay of Plenty and 19 in Hawke’s Bay.
The Coromandel has been completely cut off from the rest of the country, with Coromandel Civil Defence controller Garry Trowler describing the situation in the region as “carnage”.
“Everything that was predicted to happen, happened,” he told TVNZ’s Breakfast show.
“We had over 400mls of rain, together with the gale-force winds. As a result of that, the entire Coromandel is shut down.”
There are no major arterial roads open at all, he said, and there is no access to the peninsula due to major slips.
Gisborne is without power or communication with other regions, and there are evacuations in Dargaville as the river rises.
In Hastings and Napier, residents have been told to urgently conserve water as the storm has inundated the wastewater network.
A part of the Puketapu Bridge has been washed away by floodwaters, while the most affected area appears to be the Esk Valley, where homes are underwater.
All residents of Rissington were evacuated overnight.
McInnes says while the heavy intense rain has passed for the most part there is still the danger of high winds.
“The other factor is the wind and that’s present across much of the country.
“Auckland and Northland are still in for it for a decent amount of wind - lower half of north island will stay in high impact – Wellington is going to stay windy until tomorrow.”
He urged everyone to keep up to date with the weather warnings, saying these can change quickly.
“Things are improving somewhat but there can always be elements that can throw people off guard.”
As the storm moves south, Manawatu and Tararua District Councils are preparing for the worst.
Tararua Council has set up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and is working through a range of scenarios with FENZ, NZ Police, St John and power companies (Scanpower and PowecCo).
Mayor Tracey Collis said the council wants to be a reassurance to the community.
“While we hope that the Tararua District doesn’t bear the full force of Cyclone Gabrielle, we want to reassure the community that we are ready to respond to this event as required.”
The Manawatū Council is keeping a wary eye on a Rangitīkei, Ōroua and Pohangina rivers and is urging people to use the daylight hours to move livestock where possible.
Forecast for exposed centres
KAITAIA: Rain, turning to showers this afternoon, then becoming fine this evening. Severe gale southwesterlies with damaging wind gusts of 120 km/h, easing this evening but remaining strong.
WHANGAREI: Heavy rain turning to showers this afternoon, then becoming fine this evening. Severe gale southwesterlies with damaging wind gusts of 120 km/h.
AUCKLAND: Mostly cloudy with showers, but rain at times in the northwest. Severe gale southwesterlies with damaging wind gusts of 120 km/h. By Wednesday conditions are forecast to be mainly fine aside from isolated showers, and strong southwesterlies, easing in the morning.
HAMILTON: Mostly cloudy, with a few showers. Fresh southwesterlies.
TAURANGA: Fine breaks from afternoon and showers clearing this evening. Southerlies, strong at times, would be followed by southwesterlies on Wednesday.
ROTORUA: Showers turning to fine breaks from afternoon, with southeasterlies turning fresh southwesterly.
WHITIANGA: Mostly cloudy, with a few showers until evening, and strong southwesterlies. Conditions are forecast to be fine later tomorrow, but with continuing southwesterlies.
GISBORNE: Periods of rain had been forecast to become heavy again towards midday, with easterlies turning southerly this evening, and strong winds with gusts of 90 km/h possible. Tomorrow’s forecast was rain before dawn, then partly cloudy with a chance of further showers, along with southwesterlies.
NAPIER: Heavy rain and strong southeasterlies was forecast to have eased in the morning. Rain is expected before dawn, then becoming partly cloudy with a chance of further showers. Gusty southwesterlies would also gradually ease.
NEW PLYMOUTH: Rain was forecast to give way to showery weather by midday. Gale southerlies, gusting 120 km/h, were expected to ease in the evening.
WHANGANUI: Rain and strong southerlies, gusting 80 km/h, was forecast to ease in the afternoon.
PALMERSTON NORTH: Rain and gusty southeasterlies was forecast today. Occasional rain was likely tomorrow, along with southwesterlies.
MASTERTON: Rain, heavy at times, and gusty southerlies was forecast to ease this afternoon.
WELLINGTON: Rain, heavy at times, was likely easing towards evening, with gale southerlies gusting at 120 km/h. Rain was forecast tomorrow, with strong southerlies in exposed places until evening.
BLENHEIM: Rain today, with southeasterlies becoming strong, gusting 90 km/h. Fine weather tomorrow, with strong southwesterlies at times.
NELSON: Occasional rain clearing this afternoon but remaining cloudy. Southerlies becoming strong this morning, gusting 90 km/h, easing this evening.
