Cyclone Oma: Flood fears for Waiheke in this weekend's wild weather

Concern is mounting on Waiheke Island as the small community prepared for a barrage of wild weather from the tail of Cylone Oma that would likely overwhelm the island's drainage.

Healthy Waters contractors inspected more than 50 sites on Thursday and would be completing any maintenance needed by the end of business on Friday.

Manager Craig Mcilroy said the inspections were intended to identify issues with hotspots, such as inlets being blocked with vegetation or debris, and clear them before the weather hit.

Erua Rd and Tahi Rd in the Tawaipareira Stream catchment area were a concerning area.

Mcilroy said flooding at this location was common so Auckland Council was working towards a solution that could reduce future flooding.

Waiheke Local Board Chair Cath Handley said the community would need to pull together to get ready and respond if there was more water than the island's drainage could cope with.

"Since the last major storm in 2017 many fixes have been put in place by owners, Healthy Waters and Auckland Transport, while other locations are still working on solutions.

"Our land is so dry it's not going to mop this water up if it's a deluge, so we all need to be on alert and to look out for less-able neighbours. It's an anxious time for those who have been flooded before," Handley said.

Weekend Forecast

The forecast on Saturday showed the low over the upper North Island should move rapidly to the east - with rain expected in many places, especially in the north.

There was low confidence that rainfall would meet warning criteria from Coromandel Peninsula to East Cape.

Dust off the winter coat, here are the max and min temperatures for #Christchurch over the next 4 days... bit of a change coming to say the least! ^AH pic.twitter.com/FJBhAXzI4k

— MetService (@MetService) February 21, 2019

On Sunday, an active trough should move northwards across central and northern New Zealand, bringing strong cold southerlies and showers.

There was low confidence of heavy rain on the east coast of both islands from North Canterbury to Gisborne.

"Also on Sunday, there is low confidence of severe southeast gales in Buller and northwest Nelson, and of southerly gales becoming severe from the Kaikoura Coast to Taranaki and northeastwards to East Cape."

Your Weather for Friday

Whangārei: Rain, heavy at times, easing overnight. Northeasterlies strengthening.

High 23C Low 19C

Auckland: Cloudy, isolated showers. Rain setting in from late morning, possibly heavy from afternoon. Northeasterlies strengthening.

High 24C Low 19C

Tauranga: Cloudy. A few showers, turning to rain afternoon or evening. Northeasterlies strengthening.

High 25C Low 19C

Whanganui: Cloudy, chance shower. Northwest breezes.

High 25C Low 15C

Napier: Cloud thickening, possible evening shower. Northerlies.

High 30C 19C

Wellington: Cloudy with a few showers. Northerlies, strong for a time.

High 22C Low 15C

Christchurch: Fine at first then cloud increasing from afternoon. Northwesterlies change southerly in the afternoon.

High 28C Low 9C

Dunedin: Early rain, then fine apart from chance afternoon shower. Southwesterlies.

High 22C Low 10C