State of Emergency declared
A State of Emergency has been declared across the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group area as Cyclone Vaianu bears down on the North Island, bringing damaging winds, flooding and dangerous coastal conditions.
The declaration, made at 9.32am on Saturday 11 April, covers the entire Waikato CDEM Group area and will remain in place for seven days. It follows a similar declaration in Northland made on Friday evening, with states of emergency also declared in Whakatane and Hawke’s Bay as authorities mount a coordinated response to what is shaping up as one of the most significant weather events in recent years.
Red warnings spreading
MetService issued its latest update at 2.40pm Saturday, confirming the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua strong wind warning had been upgraded to Red, joining the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island already under the highest level of alert. Gusts of up to 130km/h are forecast in exposed places, with the worst conditions expected through Sunday.
MetService describes the event as a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation across much of the North Island and upper South Island.
What to expect and when
Conditions will begin deteriorating from Saturday evening, with the main impact window running from late Sunday morning through to mid-afternoon before easing from the north.
Northland will experience severe gales from 9pm Saturday through to 2pm Sunday, with 60 to 90mm of rain expected and peak rates of 20 to 30mm per hour.
Auckland faces 80 to 110mm of rain from 9pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday, with heavy swells and coastal inundation likely around Great Barrier Island and the outer Gulf. Wind gusts of up to 130km/h are forecast in exposed places, with a moderate chance of an upgrade to Red.
The Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki face the most severe conditions of all. A Red strong wind warning is in force from 10pm Saturday to 6pm Sunday, with severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale northwesterlies and damaging gusts of up to 130km/h. Rainfall of 120 to 150mm is expected, particularly about the ranges, with peak intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour. Large swells and coastal inundation are also likely.
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, now under a Red warning from 4am to 8pm Sunday, face the same severe gale conditions and the same threat to life from flying items and falling trees.
Gisborne and Tairawhiti can expect 120 to 150mm of rain about the ranges, with large swells and coastal inundation likely along the coast.
The Waikato, including Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui, faces a 20-hour strong wind warning from 2am Sunday, with gusts of up to 120km/h and heavy rain watches in place.
The marine picture
For New Zealand’s boating community the marine warnings are extreme and wide-ranging. MetService has issued storm warnings for the Colville, Plenty, Portland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Hawke Bay areas, with gale warnings in force for the Hauraki Gulf, Waitemata Harbour, Manukau Harbour, Bay of Islands and many other coastal waters.
The Colville Channel, between the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island, faces some of the most severe conditions anywhere in the country. Gusts of 65 knots are forecast, with northeast swells building to 8 metres.
The Hauraki Gulf will see southeast 40 knots gusting to 60 knots Saturday evening, shifting to westerly 45 knots gusting 60 knots Sunday afternoon, with seas becoming high and visibility very poor in heavy rain.
The Bay of Plenty faces northeast 50 knots gusting 65 knots Sunday morning, with swells rising to 6 metres and storm warnings in force.
Heavy swell warnings have been issued for the Wairarapa coast, where combined waves are forecast to reach 6 to 6.5 metres by Sunday afternoon, coinciding with high tide.
Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move southeast and pass west of the Chatham Islands on Monday, after which a series of fronts will continue to affect the country through Tuesday and Wednesday.
What authorities are saying
Waikato CDEM Group Controller Julian Snowball was direct in his message to residents. “If you are worried about your safety, particularly if you live in an area that has been impacted by flooding or land-slips, please do not wait. Contact your local council now to discuss alternative accommodation options.”
Councillor Emma Pike, Waikato CDEM Group Joint Committee Chair, described the declaration as rare but necessary.
“This is a serious weather system expected to affect the entire Waikato CDEM Group Area to varying degrees. Declaring a State of Emergency now allows us to act early, be as agile as possible, and proactively reduce the risk to our communities.”
Meteorologists are drawing comparisons to Cyclone Cook in 2017, which followed a similar track down through the top of the North Island and along the East Coast.
What boaties should do
- Move vessels to shelter or get them out of the water immediately
- Stay well away from beaches, shorelines and harbours
- Secure all loose items on and around boats and marina berths
- Prepare for power outages, charge devices and have a grab bag ready
- Avoid all travel once conditions deteriorate
- Never drive through floodwater
- Be ready to evacuate if instructed
For the latest warnings visit metservice.com, getready.govt.nz or waikatocivildefence.govt.nz
