Cyclone Hale a ‘one-in-20-year’ weather event – council

By 1news.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Cyclone Hale a ‘one-in-20-year’ weather event – council

The North Island’s east coast is bearing the brunt of the bad weather caused by Cyclone Hale today, with a number of power outages and road closures reported. Follow 1News’ live updates for the latest.

What you need to know

• A number of severe weather warnings and watches are in place and “a lot more” rain is expected
• A number of roads have been closed
• Hundreds of properties are without power in Coromandel

10pm: That concludes 1News’ live updates for tonight. Scroll down for a recap of the wild weather in the east coast of the North Island as it happened.

9.03pm: MetService has issued a strong wind watch for Kapiti-Horowhenua, Manawatu, Taranaki, Taupo, Whanganui and Wellington

Heavy rain watches have been issued for Marlborough, Taihape, Taranaki, Taumarunui and Taupo.

Heavy Rain Warning at orange issued for Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Tararua, Wairarapa

8.40pm: SH25A will remain closed overnight following a slip.

8.28pm: Here’s a photograph of waves crashing on Wharekaho (Simpsons Beach) in Whitianga. Sea foam can be seen coating the steps leading down to the beach.

7.52pm: In a Facebook post, Gisborne Civil Defence said the region had received 25mm of rain in the last hour, with a total of 251 in the last 24 hours.

They also said power is out for some homes in Ruatorea and Te Araroa.

7.33pm: Road closures as of 5.30pm:

SH25A Kōpū-Hikuai is closed due to a slip blocking both lanes.

Kauaeranga Valley Rd remains closed at the ford due to flood levels (9km from start of the road).

Colville Rd remains closed 6km from Driving Creek Rd just past Koputauaki Bay due to an ongoing over slip. There is also a large tree blocking the road at 12km just past Amodeo Bay. The closure is expected to remain in place overnight and a crew will work on it first thing tomorrow morning (Wednesday 11 January).

Hikuai Settlement Rd is closed due to surface flooding.

Hot Water Beach Rd is closed due to surface flooding.

7.22pm: The West Coast, parts of Buller and Milford Sound are where you want to be if you want to soak up the sun’s rays tomorrow, says 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett.

While the weather for some appears to be far from what we’d expected for this time of year, Corbett says there is “better weather coming for many of us” on the horizon.

“Move the low away, showers for Thursday, finally some high pressure and guess where it’s going? It’s going to finally build in,” Corbett said.

“There might still be a few niggles of showers on Friday but the weekend – yep, it’ll set up shop for a change and build right across the country with some quieter weather heading our way.”

1News meteorologist Dan Corbett has the latest update on ex-Cyclone Hale. (Source: 1News)

7.03pm: Havy rain, destructive winds and huge swells are being felt in Northland, the Coromandel and down the east coast.

Full fury of ex-Cyclone Hale expected to strike tonight

Stay off the roads and beaches is the official warning from authorities. (Source: 1News)

6.30pm: Here’s a video of rough seas in Whitianga earlier this afternoon.

6.25pm: Port Charles Wharf Rd and 309 Rd have now reopened.

All of SH25 has also reopened. However, delays are expected on SH25A Hikuai to Kopu due to a slip.

6.17pm: Around 53 homes are without power and will likely remain off overnight, Tairāwhiti Civil Defence says.

Meanwhile, Civil Defence will be monitoring the Hikuwai River, which is “predicted to peak around 12.4m at 11pm”.

They’ll also be monitoring SH2 at Te Karaka and the Waipaoa River. Space is available at Te Karaka Area School for people who need to self-evacuate.

6.07pm: Coromandel Town residents have been asked by the Thames-Coromandel District Council to conserve water over the next 48 hours.

“The very heavy rain we have had over the past few days, and set to continue, has meant that the stream we draw water from is carrying a heavy sediment load,” the district council said on Facebook.

“This means the water treatment plant must process at a much slower rate due to the additional sediment in the water, or even be shut off at times.

“As a result, our treated water storage is lower than normal, which looks set to be the case until the water source becomes cleaner.

“Please be mindful of your water use at this time.”

5.42pm: Photos of flooding at Whangaripo, north of Matakana, show a deluge blocking the road and covering farmland.

5.25pm:

It’s in stark contrast to the horrible weather further north. (Source: 1News)

3.45pm: Click the link below for a photo gallery of today’s wild weather.

Photos: Cyclone Hale dumps rain on Kiwi summer

3.20pm: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has issued a new update on East Coast roads:

SH35 will now be closed between Ruatōria and Tolaga Bay at 7pm tonight.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists that State Highway 35 (SH35) between Ruatoria and Te Puia Springs will be closed at 7pm tonight and further road closures are expected along the East Coast.

On SH35, the Kopuaroa Hill Improvements Project site, located within the road closure, has suffered further damage overnight with more movement expected as Ex Cyclone Hale passes through.

The closure will be reassessed at first light tomorrow morning.

In the Coromandel – drivers should plan ahead for road closures, as Waka Kotahi expects State Highway 25 (SH25) will close in multiple places.

SH25 closed west of Matarangi due to flooding this morning.

Rising flood waters are beginning to affect roads in multiple areas and a further 100 to 150mm of rain is forecast to fall through to 10pm tonight.

It’s likely that there will be flooding south of Tairua, south of Whitianga and at the Kauaeranga spillway in Thames, near the airfield.

There may also be waves washing onto the road where the state highway is close to the sea, such as around Whitianga.

Waka Kotahi is urging motorists to delay travel and stay off affected roads if they can. If they must travel, they should expect the unexpected and remain alert.

3pm: Police have provided an update on the road closure situation in Northland.

“State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns is partially closed in both ways due to severe surface flooding and slips.

“Traffic is being diverted through the intersection between State Highways 14 and 1.

“Riverside Drive in Whangārei is down to one lane due to surface flooding. And smaller cars should avoid Memorial Drive, again due to surface flooding.

“Residents are once more advised to stay home as far as possible, and in particular, stay away from the coast.”

2.35pm: Video of the tree which came down in a slip blocking part of SH1, Dome Valley near Warkworth today.

Tree blocking northbound lane of SH1 near Warkworth

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.551.0_en.html#goog_1723373434Play Video

0:10

Cyclone Hale’s impacts are being widely felt around the North Island, (Source: Supplied)

2.15pm: Thames-Coromandel District Council says Cyclone Hale is set to become a one-in-20-year event.

“Fresh off a briefing with MetService and Waikato Regional Council, our emergency management team has been advised that 400mm of rain is now forecast to fall through to 10pm tonight, meaning ex-cyclone Hale will likely be a one-in-20-year storm event,” the council said in a media release.

“While the cyclone is set to begin easing off tonight and through tomorrow, our catchments are struggling to cope so expect widespread surface flooding, slips, storm surge, and road closures to continue.”