Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Cyclone Hola: Rain, winds picking up in Northland, Great Barrier

11 Mar, 2018 11:12 PM5 minutes to read
Metservice says it’ll bring strong winds and rain but clear by early tomorrow, with another potential cyclone forming in the Coral Sea.

Metservice says it’ll bring strong winds and rain but clear by early tomorrow, with another potential cyclone forming in the Coral Sea.

Michael  Neilson
By
Michael Neilson

Michael Neilson is a senior political reporter for the New Zealand Herald

VIEW PROFILE

What you need to know:

• The centre of the low is several hundred kilometres to the northeast of Northland.

• Between 1pm and 4pm it is expected to be lying to the east of Cape Reinga, and at 7pm was expected to be about 250km east northeast of Auckland.

• Heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

• Rain could also be heavy in Auckland (mainly north of Orewa), Waikato, western Bay of Plenty and the eastern ranges, and northern Hawke's Bay.

• Severe gales with gusts to 120km/h are forecast. MetService says the strongest winds are expected in Northland, Auckland (mainly about Great Barrier Island and the Hauraki Gulf), Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty (mainly about the ranges) and Gisborne.

Gusts of 120km/h and heavy rain have cancelled flights in Northland as Cyclone Hola creeps past the North Island.

The storm that wreaked havoc as a Category 3 cyclone in Vanuatu and New Caledonia last week, has been downgraded to an ex-tropical cyclone and is sitting to the northeast of the North Island.

MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths told NZ Herald Focus heavy rain and strong winds had started in Northland.

Wind gusts of 120km/h have been recorded and up to 150mm rain is forecast to fall in areas to 8pm tonight.

Related articles

New Zealand

Live: Hola's here - Storm starts its strike on New Zealand

11 Mar 05:02 AM
New Zealand

Weather: Cyclone Hola to bring rain, winds

11 Mar 04:00 PM
New Zealand

Cyclone Hola: what you need to know in the Bay

11 Mar 06:56 PM
New Zealand

Live: Hola hits - Rain moves into Auckland, flights cancelled in north

11 Mar 07:34 PM

Air New Zealand cancelled flights in Whangarei and Kerikeri this morning.

"Three one-way services between Kerikeri and Auckland and three one-way services between Whangarei and Auckland have been cancelled due to weather this morning," a spokeswoman said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Customers booked to travel today are advised to keep an eye on the arrivals and departures page of Air New Zealand's website for up to date flight information."

As the storm tracks further southeast it will also deliver rain to Coromandel, Great Barrier Island Bay of Plenty and Gisborne later today and overnight, but it is expected to be short-lived.

Downpours of up to 130mm could fall on Great Barrier Island by 11pm tonight, and as much as 150mm around Gisborne by 3am tomorrow.

Raining heavily here at #greatbarrierisland now and wind gusts are picking up. 35 knots recorded so far with us here in the Kaiarara Bay anchorage @WeatherWatchNZ

— SVDoubleTrouble (@SVDoubleTrouble) March 11, 2018

As Hola was a relatively compact system, and given its centre was tracking offshore, the most severe weather was missing the country.

Estimates placed Hola to be lying to the east of Cape Reinga between 1 and 4pm on Monday, and at 7pm it was expected to be about 250km east northeast of Auckland.

"Most of the worst of the rain and winds are offshore, really just periphery we are seeing, not like Fehi and Gita.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"And this should be quite quick, gone early tomorrow morning."

In Northland, rain and winds would be easing by this evening, in the Coromandel overnight and Gisborne by tomorrow morning.

It had been a particularly "active" cyclone season, and we could expect another one or two before the season ended in April.

Another system was forming in the Coral Sea, just south of the Solomon Islands.

MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said it could be named Tropical Cyclone Linda sometime in the next few days.

"There is a lot of variation at the moment. There is a chance it could affect New Zealand, but significant chance it could affect Australia.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"But at the moment it could go anywhere. We need to deal with [Hola] first."

If it did start tracking for New Zealand it would not arrive until next weekend at the earliest, he said.

#CycloneHola has arrived here on #Waiheke island, but pleased to report that it’s just rain so far... hope it stays that way ☔️ #NewZealand #NZ pic.twitter.com/rQ4oF0rEAy

— Kathryn_ Black Lives Matter (@kathryntweeets) March 11, 2018

Regions preparing

Emergency services have begun preparations in the areas most likely to be impacted by Hola.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management has its five Community Link groups activated and extra resources sent to the top of the East Coast.

Emergency manager Louise Bennett said public safety messaging had been sent out since Friday.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Rain would be developing in the Gisborne/East Coast region from mid-afternoon and increasing in intensity from early morning through to 6am Tuesday.

Severe wind gusts were forecast from 7pm tonight, particularly north of Tolaga Bay.

A high tide at around 3.30am could bring storm surges and wave run-ups into the district's rivers, estuaries and drains as river levels peak at around the same time.

Gisborne District Council staff have been checking essential infrastructure to ensure its free of debris and in working order.

River wardens and farmers have been notified of the potential for rivers to reach high levels.

Fire and Emergency NZ will send extra resources into the top of the East Coast to provide security and quick response for local communities, Bennett said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"We advise people stay home and stay safe tonight and prepare this afternoon for the probability of high winds and a lot of rain."

People are advised to listen to the radio and keep an eye on Tairawhiti CDEM Facebook page, council's website gdc.govt.nz and flood monitoring models.

Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management said people should start preparing for the cyclone before it hit.

"Now is a good time to do a storm check, clear your yard of debris, tie down or pack away any loose equipment or trampolines and make sure your important devices are charged, just in case."

Civil Defence Northland also urged people to take "basic precautions" to minimise the risk of damage.

That included trimming back overhanging branches, making sure gutters and drains were clear, and checking boat moorings, sails and covers.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

One person dead in crash involving pedestrian

19 Aug 07:10 AM
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
New Zealand|CrimeUpdated

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
New Zealand

Young candidate hopes to lead Nelson Council

19 Aug 05:59 AM
Premium
Business

Adrian Orr accepts mortgage rates could fall next year

19 Aug 05:40 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|CrimeUpdated

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP