NZ: Extreme weather warning

Don't jump to conclusions that we have been let off easily

Severe weather watch as ex-cyclone looms

What remains of the tropical cyclone that killed 17 people in Samoa and inflicted severe damage on Fiji will hit New Zealand over Christmas.

Stuff,

22 December, 2012

Cyclone Evan has been downgraded to an ex-cyclone but in a warning today the MetService issued a severe weather watch for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne.

It said Evan was a deep low and was moving southwards towards New Zealand.

It was expected to lie near Northland late tomorrow, then move into the northern Tasman Sea late Christmas Eve and early Christmas Day.

"This low is likely to bring very humid subtropical air onto the northeast of the North Island, producing rain and strong to gale easterlies," the MetService said.

Periods of heavy rain are forecast for later tomorrow and during Monday for Northland, northern parts of Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, western Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.

"Northland in particular may receive bursts of very heavy rain as the low passes by, in addition to a risk of easterly winds reaching severe gale."

The MetService said it would likely upgrade its warnings over the weekend.

"People, especially holidaymakers and trampers, are urged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts as this has the potential for localised flooding and disruption to transport."

THUNDERSTORM WATCH

The MetService has also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Hawkes Bay, Taihape, Manawatu and Tararua.

It said that this afternoon very humid air and wind convergences were expected to trigger thunderstorms.

"These storms are likely to be slow moving and capable of producing localised downpours with rainfall rates reaching 25-40mm per hour."

The service added that rainfall of that intensity could cause flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.