Around 2000 homes are without power in the Coromandel, and there have been delays on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge due to severe gusts this morning as wild weather moves down the North Island.
Lanes were closed on the bridge from 9.40am for about an hour, but have since reopened after the worst of the weather passed.
UPDATE 10:30AM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) November 10, 2022
Severe wind gusts have eased, and all lanes have been restored on the #SH1 Akl Harbour Bridge. We anticipate the bad weather will ease over the next few hours, until then continue to drive with caution around the network. ^MF https://t.co/Uu9o4C0fA9
As of 8.15am, Thames District Council reported 2000 homes without power, saying on social media that “pretty much the entire township” was affected.
”Our council’s Coromandel Town service centre is closed today because of the power outage,” a council spokesperson said.
Colville resident Dott Ashley told the Herald power went this morning.
“It has been one hell of a night and surface water is rising.
”The wind is spooky as I live in the bush. The power went out approximately an hour or so ago. It’s still out.”
According to the Powerco website, 2033 properties were affected by the unplanned outages in Coromandel, 19 properties in Thames and 148 in Ngatea.
Powerco said in a statement that access issues because of flooding were hampering efforts to restore power to more than 2000 customers after strong winds and heavy rain.
A total of 2967 customers lost power at 7.50am.
Powerco head of network operations Caz Haydon said while almost 1000 customers had power restored within several minutes, crews had been working to access the suspected fault site so power could be restored to the remaining 2033 customers.
”I’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as we work to get power on in these challenging conditions.”
Crews will work throughout the day to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
”The fault was caused by trees in lines from the high winds,” she said.
”Crews were put on standby yesterday as high wind and rain warnings were issued for the Coromandel region.”
In Coromandel, power may not be restored until 5pm. Trees stuck in power lines due to wind have been identified as the cause of the outage.
In Thames, power had been out since 9.58pm last night and was set to restore in the coming hour.
In Ngatea, the power went out at about 6.48am and was set to be restored at 11am.
Bad weather is affecting travel between Coromandel and Waikato.
A police spokesperson said officers were responding to weather-related incidents on Tairua Road, Hikuwai which were affecting access to eastern Coromandel settlements.
”The road is blocked 1km north of McBeth Road and motorists are advised to seek an alternative route and to expect delays.
”It’s also reported that the one-lane bridge to Pauanui is impassable, motorists are advised to seek an alternative route or to limit travel until the situation is resolved.”
Further north, Firefighters have also rushed to rescue Northland motorists trapped in floodwaters.
Elsewhere, a yacht has washed ashore near Devonport after breaking its mooring, while storm-force winds are battering Channel Island at the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula.
A South-easterly victim. Video of a Yacht up on the rocks after braking its moorings in Waitemata harbour, Devonport . pic.twitter.com/XmSM3Nc6XK
— Hauraki Gulf Weather (@GulfHauraki) November 10, 2022
Channel Island, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, is meanwhile being hit by average wind speeds of 63 knots and a peak speed of 77 knots, according to Hauraki Gulf Weather.
It said the conditions were “averaging high-end storm force and gusting up to hurricane force on the Beaufort wind scale just before 6am”.
Auckland residents living in the city’s north are currently bearing the brunt of the heavy winds, according to forecaster WeatherWatch.
Why doesn't everyone have windy weather in #Auckland right now? It's a small shift in wind direction. ESE means Coromandel Peninsula acts like a speed bump for the flow for Auckland City. Windiest just north of the city. Winds tilt back NE later today, then eases for the region. pic.twitter.com/6LXE9Yqizc
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) November 10, 2022
“Why doesn’t everyone have windy weather in #Auckland right now,” WeatherWatch said in a tweet this morning.
It’s because the Coromandel Peninsula was currently blocking some of the strongest winds blowing in - or acting as a “speed bump” for wind flows, it said.
However, a change of wind direction later today could change conditions for other parts of the city.
🌧 135 mm of rain has fallen so far in Whangarei since yesterday evening, with a whopping 32.8 mm downpour between 6-7am this morning!
— MetService (@MetService) November 10, 2022
⚠ The heavy rain isn't over yet, so take extra care in areas where there is surface flooding.
In Northland, fire teams earlier went to the aid of a report of multiple cars being trapped by flooding in Whangaruru, north of Whangārei, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.
“Two fire trucks were dispatched, one remains at the location.”
Heavy rain, strong gales, and big swells are expected to batter the North Island today, with a plethora of weather warnings and watches throughout the area.
“The heaviest rain will affect eastern areas from Auckland around to Hawke’s Bay today until early tomorrow morning,” MetService said.
This band of heavy rain moved onto Northland yesterday evening and is moving south across the North Island today.
— MetService (@MetService) November 10, 2022
The heaviest rain will affect eastern areas from Auckland around to Hawke's Bay today until early tomorrow morning.
ℹ https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X pic.twitter.com/iNckMR0qCs
A low-pressure system was set to arrive overnight last night, according to MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan, causing weather chaos for much of the north.
It was forecast that rain would start falling in Northland last night before moving south down the country, becoming heavier as it hits the northeastern parts of the North Island.
Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne; and there are heavy rain watches in place for Northland, northern Auckland and the Hawke’s Bay ranges.
MetService reported Coromandel in particular could get up to 140mm of rain.
MetService also reported swells on the eastern coasts of the island could reach up to 5m.
“This, in addition to the heavy rain forecast, will make these coasts vulnerable to damage so be prepared and keep safe.”
The North Island downpours will, however, change to more showery weather with relaxing winds by the time they reach the South Island.
The South Island will remain largely sunny until the rain comes from the north later today.
Heavy rain expected over Eden Park today will wet the pitch ahead of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final for the Black Ferns.
The forecast for the game is some clouds and moderate northwesterly winds, and temperatures falling from the low 20s into the high teens.
However, Corrigan said there is an off chance that a thundery shower could pass over, so it may be a good idea to pack a raincoat.