Brace yourself for more bad weather across New Zealand

Friday, 27 April 2018

Persistent rain and strong winds is forecast for parts of the country as a low-pressure system moves in from the northwest this weekend. (File photo)

Prepare yourself for another wet and wild weekend as a front moves up the country overnight.

MetService has issued heavy rain and strong wind warnings for Auckland on Saturday, with many parts of the country also under a severe weather watch, predicting heavy rain and strong winds.

The alert raises concerns for the already weakened trees and houses, battered by gale force winds during an unexpected storm April 11 (File photo).

On Friday evening, MetService warned that Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, could expect up to 80mm of rain in the 10 hours from 1pm to 11pm on Saturday.

Peak rainfall intensities could be 15-25mm/hr, but could exceed 25mm/hr in localised downpours north of Orewa.

* More than 79,000 Auckland homes without power, some may be cut off for days

* Live: 55,000 Auckland homes still without power after storm**

Auckland will also experience very strong winds, with MetService issuing a strong wind warning from 11am Saturday through to 1am Sunday, with east to northeast severe gales gusting 120 kmh, or possibly more in exposed places.

A heavy rain warning was also in place for the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane for the 24 hours from 1:00pm Saturday to 1:00pm Sunday, when up to 120mm of rain could fall.

Meanwhile, Dunedin, North Otago and the ranges of Westland can expect heavy rain on Saturday morning.

Many Aucklanders are only just recovering from a severe storm two weeks ago that cut power and felled trees in parts of the city.

Lines company Vector is urging Aucklanders to be extra careful and vigilant around trees, particularly those weakened in the last storm.

While the weather is not expected to be as bad as the previous storm it will still be a 'significant' event, MetService warned.

'The difference this time is that the winds are coming from a different direction and are longer lasting, as opposed to the short burst we saw last month,' meteorologist Tui McInnes said.

There was still a degree of uncertainty around where the most severe weather would occur.

Severe weather warnings and watches were in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty in the north, and Dunedin and North Otago in the south.

Families returning home after school holidays were urged to keep up to date with weather forecasts when planning their journey.

MetService advised that the combination of rain, strong onshore winds, relatively low pressure, and high tides would likely cause coastal inundation in areas like central Auckland's Tāmaki Drive and the Bucklands Beach area in east Auckland.

After the last storm, Aucklanders woke to 115,000 homes without power, trees down, roofs blown off and road closures.

Auckland Emergency Management Director John Dragicevich said that in light of the MetService weather watch, Aucklanders should be doing what they can to prepare.

'It's been a couple of weeks now since the last storm hit and we're still in clean-up mode. Aucklanders should check their gutters and drains, secure outdoor items and move any loose garden furniture or outdoor equipment inside.

'We advise people to make sure they have a backup supply of batteries and water, as well as general food and drink needs, in case they become isolated,' Dragicevich said.

If you see damaged trees directly on or very close to power lines please report this to Vector via their call centre – 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867).

Anyone concerned by weakened or damaged trees on public land are urged to contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.