An Emergency Operation Centre is being set up at the Western Bay District Council where Tauranga City and Western Bay will manage councils' response to the storm.

This EOC will activate from 1pm today. There is lots of preparation work taking place ahead of the worst of the weather effects, due mid-late afternoon, but the two councils are also managing business as usual functions.

This includes staff and contractors busy preparing roads and utilities for the impending weather.

'There is no change to the situation at Omokoroa. The number of self-evacuations still sits at four households,” says a statement from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

'These were the Omokoroa people whose properties were affected by the slips last week and is a precautionary measure.

'Residents are being advised that if they believe their property may flood or are just feeling unsafe, to think about self-evacuating, with their pets, to friends or family in other areas.”

Western Bay Council is asking people who choose to self-evacuate to register with Council so we can keep in touch with them by calling 07 571 8008 or 0800 WBOPDC, or emailing customerservice@westernbay.govt.nz.

'There is a report of a slip on private property at Hume Road in Katikati. As far as we are aware there is no threat to the property at this address. The only road closure we know of at this stage is Grenada Street from Sunrise Ave to Sandhurst Drive in Tauranga.

'People are advised that this storm could bring strong winds and to stay away from beaches and streams as significant coastal swells are expected.”

Key messages

A severe weather warning is in place in the Bay of Plenty for the heavy rain and high winds that are anticipated today and tomorrow. Residents are urged to be prepared and make a plan.

PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO:

• clear your gutters and stormwater grates of any debris
• secure outdoor furniture
• have an evacuation plan in place – including for pets – and a supply of fresh food, water and clothes
• stay away from beaches and streams as significant coastal swells are expected
• avoid areas, both below and above, where there have been recent slips as the ground may still be unstable
• avoid travelling when possible. If driving, watch your speed and following distances.

For up to date weather information go to www.metservice.comor listen to your local radio station.

For further updates visit councils' websites www.westernbay.govt.nz, www.tauranga.govt.nz or the Bay of Plenty Emergency Management website www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz.

In an emergency dial 111.

School closure update

Severe wet weather caused by Cyclone Cook has now closed 137 schools and 133 early learning centres across the North Island, affecting 34,232 school children and 4339 pres-schoolers.

Those closed include: 10 schools and four early childhood centres (ECEs) in Northland, 16 schools and 11 ECEs in Auckland, 24 schools and 33 ECEs in the Waikato, and 87 schools and 133 ECEs in the Bay of Plenty/Taupo area. See below for a full list of school closures.

Schools and ECEs in the already sodden Eastern Bay of Plenty – those in the Whakatane, Opotiki and Kawerau districts – as well as those in Thames, Coromandel, and some coastal areas of Auckland were yesterday advised to close today, Ministry of Education deputy secretary of Sector Enablement and Support Katrina Casey says.

'With the worst of the weather expected to hit Western areas of the Bay of Plenty from late this afternoon or early evening, we have also advised schools and ECEs those areas to close by 1pm today. A number of schools have chosen to voluntarily close ahead of this and parents are advised to check with their schools.

'Decisions around school closures are not made lightly but with weather conditions set to continue, the ability for students to make it safely to and from school is everyone's paramount concern,” Katrina Casey says.

*The Ministry's website will be updated as the situation unfolds during the day.

All Bay Venues buildings will be closed from 1pm, due to the forecasted severe storm conditions.

Bay Venues chief executive Gary Dawson says the decision was made with public and staff safety in mind.

Unless otherwise advised all venues will open as scheduled tomorrow.

Tauranga Libraries will be closed from 3pm.

Schools and early learning services advised to close today:

Eastern Bay of Plenty schools: Allandale School, Apanui School, Ashbrook School, Awakeri School, Edgecumbe College, Edgecumbe School, Galatea School, James Street School, Kawerau Putauaki School, Kawerau South School, Kawerau Teen Parent Unit, Kutarere School, Maketu School, Matata School, Murupara Area School, Nukuhou North School, Ohope Beach School, Omarumutu School, Opotiki College, Opotiki School, Otakiri School, Otamarakau School, Paengaroa School, Pongakawa School, Pukehina School, Rangiuru School, St Joseph's Catholic School (Matata), St Joseph's Catholic School (Opotiki), St Joseph's Catholic School (Whakatane), Taneatua School, Tarawera High School, Tawera Bilingual School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Orini ki Ngati Awa, Te Kura Mana Maori Maraenui, Te Kura Mana Maori o Matahi, Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa, Te Kura Maori-a-Rohe o Waiohau, Te Kura o Te Paroa, Te Kura o Te Teko, Te Kura o Te Whanau-a-panui, Te Kura o Torere, Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti-nui-a-Toi, Te Mahoe School, Te Wharekura o Ruatoki, Te Whata Tau o Putauaki, Thornton School, TKK Motuhake o Tawhiuau, TKKM o Huiarau, TKKM o Waioweka, Trident High School, Waimana School, Waiotahe Valley School, Whakatane High School, Whakatane Intermediate, Whakatane S D A School, Whakatane Teen Parent Unit and Woodlands School (Opotiki).

Eastern Bay of Plenty ECEs: Seedlings Preschool, Ngā Ririki Early Learning Centre, Kawerau Preschool Learning Centre (Incorporated), Te Manaaki Educational Pre-School Trust, Maketu EduCare, Matatā Early Learning Centre, Murupara Educare Centre, Te Pou Oranga ō Whakatohea ECE Centre Ki Buchanan Street, Opotiki Community Childcare Centre, Opotiki Rose Garden Preschool, Te Whare Kohungahunga o Nga Whetu Tiaho Shining Stars Preschool, Te Pou Oranga ō Whakatohea ECE Centre Ki Richard Street, Happy Feet Preschool, Pukehina EduCare, Little Orchard Preschool - Douglas St, Little Orchard Preschool Douglas St 2, Waiapu Kids - St Georges, Matariki Early Childhood Centre, Coastlands Preschool

Little Orchard Preschool - Douglas Street 3, Little Sprouts Montessori Pre-School, The Tree House, Little Orchard Preschool Alexander Street, Little Orchard Preschool - McGarvey Road 2, Little Orchard Preschool - McGarvey Road 1, Ohope Beach Montessori Preschool, Te Waipuna Ariki o Matangireia, Pohutukawa Preschool, A Kidz World Home Based Childcare & Education Service, Nga Rito Homebased Childcare, Waiapu Kids - Homebased Bay of Plenty, Bizzy Buddyz Ltd, Bizzy Buddyz (2), Waiapu Kids - Homebased Bay of Plenty, Edubase In-home Childcare, Bizzy Buddyz (3), Play Homebased Early Childhood Education, and all Kohanga Reo and kindergartens in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Thames and Coromandel schools: Coromandel Area School, Colville School, Coroglen School, Hikuai, Hikutaia, Karangahake, Mercury Bay Area, Opoutere, Te Rerenga, Whenuakite, Waikino, Whangamata Area, Tairua, Moanatairi, Parawai, Tapu, Matatoki, Thames South School, Puriri School, St Francis Catholic School, Thames High School, Te Puru, Te Wharekura o Manaia and TKKM o Harataunga.

Thames and Coromandel ECEs: A Fun Place To Be Childcare, Barnardos KidStart Childcare - Turua/Hauraki Early Learning Centre, Colville Bay Early Learning Centre Inc, Coromandel Community Preschool, First Steps Whangamata, Kauri Learners Early Education, Kuaotunu Kindergarten, Mercury Bay Preschool, Milly's Educare Limited, Peanuts Childcare & Education Centre, Pukekos Educare Thames, Rainbow Connection Childcare, Rainbow Cottage, Riverlee Early Learning Centre, Rose's Montessori, Sealey Street Childcare, Thames Coast Community Kindergarten Inc, Thames Early Childhood Education Centre, Whenuakite Country Kids, Central Kids Kindergartens – Tairua, Central Kids Kindergartens – Thames, Central Kids Kindergartens - Mercury Bay, Coromandel Playcentre, Tairua Playcentre, Thames/Parawai Playcentre, Turua Playcentre, Whangamata Playcentre, Whitianga Playcentre, Te Kōhanga Reo o Kapanga, Te Kōhanga Reo o Matai Whetu,

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Tonga o Hoterini, Puriri Playgroup and Thames Baptist Churches Ministries Playgroup.

Frankin area, Great Barrier and Waiheke schools: Clevedon School, Brookby School, Orere Point School, Kaiaua School, Maraetai Beach School, Beachlands School, Hunua School, Kaitoke School, Okiwa School, Mulberry Grove School, Waiheke Primary School, Waiheke High School and Te Huruhi School.

Franklin area, Great Barrier and Waiheke ECEs: Fossil Bay Kindergarten, Kawakawa Bay Kindergarten, Tots on The Rock, Clevedon Kidz Early Childhood Centre, Clevedon Kindergarten, Aotea Island Playcentre, Kaiwaka Playcentre, Small Pukeko's Early Learning Centre, Kawakawa Playcentre, Te Kōhanga Reo o Kawakawa, Te Mirumiru Early Childhood Education Centre, Waiheke Community Childcare Centre, Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Piritahi Childcare, Waiheke Island Kindergarten, Waiheke Island Playcentre and Hunua Playcentre.

Voluntary Closures - Western Bay of Plenty

Western Bay of Plenty Schools and ECEs: Arataki School, Brookfield School, Fairhaven School, Gate Pa School, Golden Sands School, Greenpark School (Tauranga), Greerton Village School, Kaimai School, Katikati College, Katikati Primary School, Merivale School, Mt Maunganui College, Mt Maunganui Intermediate, Mt Maunganui School, Omanu School, Oropi School, Otumoetai College, Te Akau Ki in Papamoa, Papamoa Primary School, Papamoa College, Otumoetai Intermediate, Paengaroa School,Pongakawa School, Pukehina School, Selwyn Ridge School, Tauranga Primary School, Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga Girls' College, Taurnaga Boys' College, Tauranga Waldorf School, Tauriko School, Te Kura o Matapihi, Te Puke High School, Te Puke Intermediate, Te Puke Primary School, Te Puna School, Te Ranga School, Welcome Bay School, Greerton Early Childhood Centre (Infants and Toddlers), Greerton Early Childhood Centre (Toddlers and Young Children)