Weather in the media --- late July 2008  

 

Snow for South Island, waves on road near Wellington

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 RadioLive

A polar blast hitting the South Island today is set to move its way up into the North Island.

The cold southerly is expected to bring heavy snow down to 400 metres in Otago and Canterbury today, with the Metservice warning drivers to take extra care on the Lindis Pass and the Milford road.

Severe weather forecaster Erick Brenstrum says that front will more than likely move its way North.

Meanwhile, Wellington police are now advising motorists along State Highway One between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki to exercise extreme care in the next two hours.

A storm swell will coincide with a high tide at 1pm and is already causing waves to crash onto the sea walls and the road in some areas.

 

WELLINGTON'S WINTER WEATHER

By MICHAEL FIELD, GREER McDONALD, KAY BLUNDELL | Friday, 25 July 2008

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

ROUGH RIDE: Waves of up to 10 metres batter Interislander ferry Kaitaki as it leaves Wellington Harbour yesterday.

A southerly storm again affected ferry sailings to and from Wellington this morning, with swells of up to 7m forecast in the Cook Strait.

KiwiRail spokesman Nigel Parry said two sailings had been cancelled this morning, the 9am from Wellington and the 10am from Picton.

MetService forecaster Ian Gall said Wellington was hit with winds of about 111kmh yesterday, with a wind chill factor that would have made people feel as if it was zero degrees.

There were extensive traffic delays as a result of the slips but all roads were clear by late yesterday afternoon.

Travel plans for more than 1000 people were interrupted by the cancellation of more than 20 flights to and from Wellington airport yesterday, which recorded wind gusts of up to 100kmh. Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Mills said high winds had prevented planes taking off or landing.

Swells off Wellington's south coast averaged 5m yesterday, with some waves reaching 10m.

- with NZPA

 

 

No ordinary storm: Civil Defence alert

Friday July 25, 2008

High winds and rain are expected to batter most of the North Island this weekend. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The MetService is warning Aucklanders to batten down the hatches for one of the worst storms in recent years tomorrow.

The severe storm is expected to hit Auckland some time between midday Saturday and midday Sunday.

"By the time this system reaches northern New Zealand on Saturday, it is likely to have significant destructive potential," Mr Kreft says.

"The real issue will be the wind, with gusts of more than 110km/h expected."

The rapidly intensifying storm is expected to strike Northland first, then Auckland before reaching Bay of Plenty and Gisborne late Sunday, MetService said.

Far North District Council civil defence teams and contractors are on stand-by ready to deal with any fall-out from the storm.

Civil Defence in Auckland has just issued an alert for the city as a powerful storm heads south. The Auckland Region Emergency Management Office is monitoring the weather situation and recommends people listen to the radio for Civil Defence advice.

Severe weather is forecast for the Northland and Auckland regions with heavy rain and gale force winds predicted.

Superintendent John Kelly, District Road Policing Manager, Waitematä, says the best strategy for driving in bad weather is to simply not go out.

“Drivers should keep a close eye on deteriorating weather patterns and they should only venture out in their vehicles if it is absolutely necessary.”

MetService public weather services manager Peter Kreft said the unnamed low, which originated in the tropics, is coming from the Queensland coast, and was more intense than the current typical winter storm.

"This is no ordinary storm. It's one of the largest and deepest lows we've seen for some years," he said.

"By the time this system reaches northern New Zealand on Saturday, it is likely to have significant destructive potential."

Damaging gales and very heavy downpours were possible in many North Island areas, and strong winds would create treacherous seas.

The low was forecast to move over Cape Reinga late Saturday afternoon then move southeastwards to lie near the Coromandel Peninsula at midnight and near East Cape by midday Sunday.

It will bring widespread rain and gales to much of the North Island, with the heaviest rain predicted in Northland, northern Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.

The wind would be strong enough to cause damage and make driving hazardous, MetService said.

WHAT TO DO

Before the storm hits Civil Defence has asked Aucklanders to do the following before the storm hits:

- Check your drains and spouting to make sure they are clear of blockages;

- Pick up rubbish around your house that could become airborne;

- Bring rubbish bins indoors;

- Bring pets inside; 

- Boaties are recommended to check their moorings;

- Check on your next door neighbours.

If the storm hits Civil Defence recommends:

- People stay at home, do not travel unless absolutely necessary;

- Open a window on the side of the building away from the wind. This will relieve pressure on the roof and help prevent it lifting;

- Close all curtains to slow down flying glass and airborne objects;

- Stay away from doors and windows. If the wind becomes destructive, shelter further inside the house.

 

Saturday July 26, 2008  By James Ihaka  NZ Herald with NZPA

A satellite image shows clear skies over New Zealand and a large storm front approaching from the northwest.

Wind gusts of 150km/h have been recorded at Cape Reinga as a weather front one forecaster said could be "the most intense sub-tropical storm of the decade" hits.

MetService has issued over a dozen rain and wind warnings for the top half of New Zealand amid predictions of heavy rain, huge seas and howling wind.

Electricity has been cut to about 1000 people throughout the Whangarei District.

Many planning to watch the Bledisloe Cup rugby test between the Wallabies and the All Blacks in Sydney tonight might also be in for a disappointing and frustrating time. (abridged)

 

Northland cops it as storm sweeps island

Saturday, 26 July 2008  Whangarei Leader

Commerce Street, Whangarei.

By NICK UNKOVICH/

A powerful storm has cut a swathe across the North Island, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, trapping skiers and making driving hazardous. abridged

- NZPA

 

Sunday July 27, 2008

By Jared Savage, Alice Hudson, Michelle Coursey and Debrin Foxcroft  Herald on Sunday

Rough weather in Auckland's Castor Bay.

The weather bomb left a trail of destruction across the North Island, cutting power to more than 60,000 homes.

Northland was hardest hit, with winds of up to 167km/h bringing down trees and power lines, and heavy rain flooding roads.

About 3,500 homes in the Rodney District, Waiheke Island, North Shore and west Auckland are still reported to be without power after cuts last night affected some 53,000 properties.

Power was also cut to about PowerCo 30,000 customers from north of Thames to Patea, in Taranaki, but many were reconnected by last night.

Canoeist missing

Police said rescuers were today using surf lifesaving vessels to try to find a canoeist feared drowned in swollen seas off Mt Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty.

The 33-year-old man was last night missing after falling from an outrigger canoe in 6-7m swells. He had set out from Maketu to paddle to Pilot Bay with three others.

Two other people have reportedly died after a boating incident near Opotiki this morning.

The storm ripped boats from their moorings and forced the evacuation of up to 10,000 skiers from Mt Ruapehu as 200km/h winds lashed the slopes.

In Auckland and Waikato, emergency services were stretched to breaking point with the Fire Service fielding 1200 weather-related calls by early evening.

Roads

All state highways in Northland have reopened, but Transit warned motorists to take care because of debris and flooding.

There is flooding on SH10 at Kaeo, SH1 south of Kaitaia and SH12 west of Kaikohe.

Transit's Northern Operations Manager, Joseph Flanagan, said numerous potholes had opened up, making driving conditions difficult.

Road crews would continue to remove debris and repair road slips over the next few days, he said.

 

Monday July 28, 2008 By Lincoln Tan and Mathew Dearnaley  NZ Herald

Satellite image of the storm that swept over New Zealand

The country is set to be hit by another storm tomorrow before the clean-up from the weekend's battering is completed.

Despite several deaths being attributed to the weather bomb, Mr Brenstrum believed considerably more people could have lost their lives had there not been such strong warnings.  "We certainly believe that reduced the loss of life or injuries - people by and large heeded the advice to get themselves out of the line of danger."  (abridged)

·                      

 

Ripper storm leaves trail of destruction

Waikato Times | Monday, 28 July 2008

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

RIPPED UP: High winds uprooted this massive tree, and dozens of others, in Te Aroha.

Huge trees were uprooted at Te Aroha golf course and concrete power poles in the town flattened, and at Raglan, wind hurled a trampoline 12m into a tree.

The weekend storm was one to remember its high winds and heavy rain lashing nearly all parts of the Waikato from early Saturday through until yesterday.

Today 200 households on the Hauraki Plains still lacked power.

In Te Aroha, winds overnight ripped roofing iron from at least 12 houses.

Te Aroha fire station deputy chief Geoff Edwards said the storm had been "pretty messy all over town", and people awoke to damage in many forms.

"We've got roofs, chimneys, trees, sheds disappearing off site some of them we don't even know where they are ... it's pretty scary."

Up to 60 trees, some with huge thick trunks, were laid flat at Te Aroha golf course.

The MetService described the storm that ravaged most parts of the central North Island as as "particularly rare and nasty".

And there's more stormy weather on the way. North Island duty forecaster Oliver Druce said it was likely MetService would issue heavy rain warnings later and residents could expect more strong wind.

"There's another deep low coming from the north Tasman. There's certainly going to be strong-to-gale northeasterlies developing for Waikato tomorrow, with lots of rain." (abridged)

Flood warning: Stock up on food and water

Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Whangarei Leader and NZPA

 

The North Island is bracing for the next storm, with local civil defence warning people to stock up on food and water. Whangarei District Council said today people have been calling for advice on the looming storm.

The Metservice has issued a warning for flooding in the North Island today due to a deep low, which follows in the path of Saturday's weather bomb.

The local civil defence was advising people to ensure they had enough food and water for three days, find a torch or other light source, have cooking gear available in case of power cuts, know where a first aid kit is and get firewood in.

Civil defence also recommended securing outdoor furniture and other items which could blow around.  (Abridged)

Worse weather ahead for Coromandel and Northland

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 TV3 news

The next storm is going to be worse, and it is going to be here sooner than originally expected.

The Met Service has issued a severe weather warning for Northland, Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne. It is expected to hit from tomorrow afternoon, giving waterlogged communities little time to dry out and regroup.

With so much water already in the ground, the flooding is expected to happen faster. The rain will be as intense but the storm will stay overhead longer, and only slowly travel down the country.

"The amounts of rain in the north are likely to be similar to what they had during the weekend, and that's probably the last thing they want because they are on the brink of slips and trouble already," says Erick Brenstrum, Met Service.

So we have been warned, but according to the experts we are not paying enough attention.

A conference on disaster management had been organised for today in Wellington and although it was a coincidence, it was also timely.

It was a nasty storm, which claimed lives, but the depression which lashed the country over the weekend was a long way from being a natural disaster.

"It could have been much worse," says David Johnston of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research.  But they are worried about the attention paid to the warnings that were issued.  "It doesn't really matter how well forecasts are improved in the future," says Mr Johnston. "What matters is getting the recipient of the warning to make the right decision."

For example, the operator of the Ruapehu skifield faced criticism for opening for business on Saturday. Thousands had to be evacuated when the storm struck earlier than expected.

The general consensus of the experts gathered here is that the country coped well with a severe winter storm. It was not a disaster, but it did have the potential to be one.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008  NZPA

Cars get wet as waves crash into Lyall Bay in Wellington

Upper North Island residents are preparing for the second storm within four days and are being warned that it has the potential to cause more damage than the first.   The weekend storm, described as the worst in a decade, resulted at least three deaths, power cuts to thousands of home, road closures and widespread flooding.

"This storm is slower moving which actually means it will cause, or have the potential to cause, more damage than the last storm which was relatively short duration but high intensity.  "So, the fact that this one is coming slower means you get the heavy rains for longer in each water-logged community before it waddles its way down the island." MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said a deepening low was expected to move from the Tasman Sea on to New Zealand on Wednesday.

  "This system will bring more rain to the already saturated ground in the northern and eastern parts of the North Island," Mr McDavitt said.  "These regions have still not properly drained from last weekend's storm and are now prone to surface flooding or hillside slips.

"Even though winds are not expected to reach severe gale over northern New Zealand, trees and buildings weakened by the last storm may experience further damage," Mr McDavitt said.    (Abridged)

 

Weather bomb hits New Zealand

30/07/2008 Radio Network

High winds, slips and surface flooding have hit the top half of the North Island as part two of a weather bomb hits the region.

Police are warning driving this morning is treacherous. A huge slip north of Warkworth has closed State Highway One in the Dome Valley. Trees are down, and approaching Whangarei they are blocking the road on blind corners. There is flooding in Kawakawa and Paihia.

In Auckland, parts of Albany are underwater, with the bridge between the township and Paremoremo impassible early on, and Oteha Valley Road is flooded. Don Buck Road in Massey is also underwater. There is metre deep flooding blocking State Highway Two at the Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi and the Tairua-Whitianga road is under water.

But with winter conditions set to continue for days the Mental Health Foundation is reminding us to keep the bad weather   in perspective. Chief Executive Judi Clements says it might be a good time to book that summer holiday, so at least you will have something to look forward to. She says the weather is not as severe as many people in other parts of the world have to endure on a more permanent basis. Ms Clements says the power of positive thinking can do wonders.

 

 

Storm pounds lower North Island

Jul 30, 2008  NZ Herald

The storm which has hampered the upper North Island has caused pandemonium further south.

Levin and other parts of the Horowhenua district are the worst affected, with residents experiencing power outages and property damage.

All roads in and out of Shannon are blocked and traffic is being held up in Foxton and Levin. Around a thousand homes in the area are without power.

No mail is getting through in Levin, Ashhurst, Pahiatua and disruptions are likely in Foxton.

Meanwile, Wellington police are advising motorists in the region to stay off the roads if they can, and if they have to drive, do so with their headlights on and be prepared to stop quickly in case of debris on the road.  (Abridged)

 

Storm lashes Marlborough

Jo Gilbert , Maike van der Heide and Dee Wilson –

| Wednesday, 30 July 2008  Photo: SCOTT HAMMOND/The Marlborough Express

The walking track by the Taylor River under the High St bridge is submerged.

Both State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Picton and SH6 have been covered in surface flooding and SH 6 has been closed.

It is understood defence force staff were called into Picton to help with fighting the flooding.

Police said there had been slips reported on the roads to Kaikoura and Nelson and the weather was causing ''chaos''.

At about 7.45am about 300 homes were left without power in the Hawkesbury  area after powerlines came down.

In Blenheim the Taylor River overflowed the natural bank at Riverside Park by 11am.

Metservice forecaster Paul Mallinson said the conditions were expected to get worse in Marlborough and along the Kaikoura coast this afternoon.

The rain would get heavier and the winds would pick up, with east to southeast gusts of up to 120kmh, Mr Mallinson said.

"It's quite an event really, we probably haven't seen anything quite like this in a long time in the Marlborough area," Mallinson said. (Abridged)

 

Search for missing man called off

Jul 30, 2008 NZ Herald

Flood waters in Coromandels

Slip in dome valley north of Warkworth

Far North Police have called off their search for a missing man near Waikare Valley in the Bay of Islands.

His partner's body was found tangled in trees in Kawakawa's Waikare River on Wednesday afternoon.  It is believed the man and his partner, who are new to the area, had tried to cross the normally-shallow creek to get to their house. 

In Moerewa, north of Whangarei, road crews spent much of Wednesday morning draining out water in the town's centre.

Power has  been restored to hundreds of homes through Thames and Coromandel. However the townships still remain isolated, due to downed trees.

Flooding was the main concern for the Coromandel Peninsula and surrounding areas on Wednesday during the storm.

Golden Valley, on the Peninsula had the heaviest rainfall overnight, with over 300 millimetres of rain fell in just 24 hours - falling at about 30 millimetres an hour. State Highway Two is blocked as a result of flooding and slips, and the Karangahake Gorge was closed and Pauanui and Tairua were cut off.

Schools in Northland and Coromandel have been closed for the day. (abridged)

 

Thursday July 31, 2008 TVNZ

A power pole blown on its side during the storm. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Residents at Amberley Beach, about 50km north of Christchurch, are being evacuated ahead of a high tide which is expected to flood the settlement shortly after 4pm. Deputy chief fire officer Anthony Parish said fire and police are at the scene and buses have been organised for people who do not have transport.

He said up to 500 people could be affected.

Some 40 people have received medical treatment after their cruise ship rolled sharply in heavy seas caused by the storm sweeping New Zealand.  P&O cruises said the ship Pacific Sun was experiencing 7 metre swells and 50 knot winds when it rolled 600km north of Auckland just before 8pm. A spokesperson said onboard medical staff treated about 40 passengers as a result of the sudden movement.

 

South Island thrashed,

Thursday Jul 31, 2008 TVNZ

The rain which continues to cause widespread surface flooding in Northern Canterbury, is being described by some locals as the heaviest in 50 years.

North Canterbury was worst hit on Thursday with swollen rivers, reports of power outages and railway and road closed.

Forecasters are predicting another 50 millimetres of rain in Canterbury overnight Thursday, with MetService saying most of it will fall south of Christchurch, in particular the township of Rakaia.

Residents at Amberley Beach, about 50km north of Christchurch, are being evacuated ahead of a high tide which is expected to flood the settlement shortly after 4pm. Deputy chief fire officer Anthony Parish said fire and police are at the scene and buses have been organised for people who do not have transport.

He said up to 500 people could be affected. 37 people were evacuated in Picton and three evacuated in Blenheim.

State Highway One from Rakaia to Ashburton has been flooded, and although the road hasn't been closed, people are being told to keep off it. The road between Kaikoura and Christchurch is still closed.

The Automobile Association is warning of surface flooding in South Canterbury across all state highways and extreme care is recommended and roads around Christchurch.

The Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton is closed while the Main South Line between Christchurch and Invercargill is likely to close soon.

The adverse weather has caused significant disruption to the country's rail services.

The Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton is closed while the Main South Line between Christchurch and Invercargill is likely to close soon.

A massive clean-up is underway in Greymouth after high winds wreaked havoc on the west coast town.  Some of the gusts were the strongest to hit the area in decades, with some residence saying the aftermath looked like a war zone.  Emergency services were stretched in the region as winds gusted to over 160 kilometres an hour.  Gusts flattened buildings such as garages and sheds and lifted roofing off houses. Pollock says the winds also ripped out fences and letterboxes and downed trees.

Tekapo woke to heavy snow on Thursday morning. The snowfall closed the main highway for part of the morning.

A small number of evacuations were carried out at Kaiapoi north of Christchurch on Thursday afternoon.

Some 40 people have received medical treatment after their cruise ship rolled sharply in heavy seas caused by the storm sweeping New Zealand.  P&O cruises said the ship Pacific Sun was experiencing 7 metre swells and 50 knot winds when it rolled 600km north of Auckland just before 8pm. A spokesperson said onboard medical staff treated about 40 passengers as a result of the sudden movement.

 Thursday July 31, 2008

By Juliet Rowan

NZ Herald

A mini-tornado hit the Mt Maunganui home of Irene Elvy, 84. Photo / Alan Gibson

"I just heard a bang, nothing else, and then it was quiet," Mrs Elvy said.

The MetService said the twister could be classified as a mini-tornado because it was not as large as a full-scale tornado, and had been generated by strong wind off the coast.

As well as the wind, heavy rain hammered Mt Maunganui, central Tauranga and surrounding areas.  At Omokoroa, north of the city, three houses were evacuated after a slip in front of one of them threatened to send the buildings down a hill.

 

Wild weather

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 3 News

The Marlborough District Council has declared a state of Civil Defence emergency and motorists are advised to avoid non-essential travel.

Further north in Levin it was not just rain causing chaos - there was also a fierce wind to battle. Gusting at over 120km, the wind brought down powerlines and flung debris. The MetService say the easterly wind is particularly uncommon. Pressure is building up behind the Tararua ranges, which is then swooping down the mountain side, causing unpredictable wind gusts.

For much of the day Levin was without power, causing many shops to close.

In the Hawkes Bay settlement of Haumoana, at least four beachfront properties were damaged and four metre swells threatened to take part of another one out to sea.