Storm passes over Northland and Auckland, heads towards Bay of Plenty

Tuesday, 11 August 2020

While the North Island sees treacherous conditions, the South Island will remain mostly dry.

A short but sharp storm has passed over the Northland and Auckland regions without causing any major damage.

MetService issued a heavy rain warning for Northland on Tuesday while weather watches were put in place for Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.

Strong wind watches were also issued for all three locations.

“Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms means a risk for localised slips and flooding,” MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said on Tuesday morning.

* Weather front could bring thunderstorms to parts of NZ, Northland most at risk

Surface flooding on State Highway 1 just south of Kawakawa in Northland.

* 120mm of rain expected for Northland as region prepares for another deluge

“Rain should end before the evening rush hour. However, expect it to fall during school [dismissal] time.”

By about 3pm, the heavy rain warning was cancelled for Northland, but the rain watch would stay in place for Auckland and the Coromandel until about 7pm, Met Service meteorologist Tuporo Marsters said.

As of about 4.20pm, the pesky front was heading into the Bay of Plenty and further south towards Palmerston North, he added.

Kerikeri was worst hit by rain, recording 77.6mm, while Kaeo recorded the strongest wind gust at 124kmh.

Kaeo River in Northland at midday on Tuesday.

Several schools in Northland closed at midday because of flooding risk.

Staff from Bay of Islands College and Kawakawa Primary School posted on social media to inform parents the school would close early.

“This weather looks like it is not going to let up and roads are already looking like flooding,” principal Liz Ross said.

“We have already sent one staff member home to Waikare and, with high tide approaching, we have other staff members who will also need to head home.

“Based on all this, the board of trustees has made the decision to close the school today. We ask all whānau who are able to contact the school and/or make arrangements to have their tamariki picked up.”

Bay of Islands College also said it was closing due to weather conditions and possible flooding. Buses were scheduled to run at midday.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said they were called to one weather-related incident in Paihia, where power lines had fallen down onto a tree.

The last Northland storm saw more than 200mm of rain fall on July 17 and 18, just days after earlier flooding impacted the region.

The cost to local and central Government of that storm was estimated at $17.6m and rising, but that did not take into account the cost to private homes and vehicles, businesses and farms, as insurance claims were still coming in.

The rain would be heavy, but would still not be enough to have any significant effect on Auckland’s water supply woes, but Glassey said it was “better than nothing”.

On August 9, Auckland’s current dam levels were sitting just below 60 per cent. Usually by this stage of the year the levels would be sitting at around 85 per cent.

As the week progresses, the weather in the upper North Island should become more settled, Glassey said.