Communities likely to be cut off

Waterfall on Kopu Hikuai Rd. Photo: Carina Julian‎/Coromandel Peninsula Road Status

There is a high risk road access to the small coastal community of Whiritoa will be cut off in the wake of Cyclone Cook.

As the storm looms closer, residents are being advised to either be prepared to fend for themselves for up to seven days or self-evacuate to family and friends.

Hauraki District Civil Defence Controller Steve Fabish says the community was cut off by slips for a number of days following the Tasman Tempest last month and there is a strong likelihood this could happen again, considering the way the storm is tracking. Unlike surrounding low-lying Eastern Coromandel coastal areas currently being evacuated, the threat of severe tidal inundation in Whiritoa is low.

'At this stage the storm is expected to hit the Coromandel Peninsula from 3pm until midnight. Our advice to travellers is stay away from the area until late Friday or Saturday at least,” says Fabish.

Kaimanawa water supply likely to be cut off

There is a high likelihood water supply to the Kaimanawa community, near Hikutaia in Hauraki will be affected and/or cut off during the coming storm. Residents are reminded the community's permanent boil water notice is still in place. A water tanker is being moved on site in case water is needed for tomorrow's milking. Drinking water will also be available, but residents are advised to stock up on supplies as well, just in case.

Emergency Operating Centre established

Hauraki Civil Defence has established an emergency operating centre and the team is currently monitoring the situation across the Hauraki District.

People can stay informed via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/haurakidistrictcouncil/ and website www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz/cyclone-cook

Civil Defence has advised people in beach-front properties or those on estuaries and other low-lying areas that have flooded in the past during, for example, high tides combined with storm surges, should self-evacuate to friends or family on higher ground or to one of our emergency shelters.

Cyclone Cook has been reclassified as an extra-tropical low, but MetService will continue to refer to it as Cyclone Cook until it has passed.

It is expected to make landfall over the Bay of Plenty this evening and move southwards reaching Wellington or Wairarapa in the early hours of Friday morning. Damaging severe gales with gusts of 150 kmh or more are possible, affecting regions from Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty, down to Wellington. Coastal areas of the eastern Coromandel may see large waves of 5 metres or more, storm surges near the centre of Cyclone Cook, with coastal inundation and erosion possible.

People in properties in low-lying areas on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula or areas inundated in the past by king tide flooding, please self-evacuate immediately. This specifically refers to beach-front properties, and properties on estuaries which have been flooded before in very high tides combined with storm surges.

Our Civil Defence are set up at and open as of 10am for a safe place to wait for further information:

  • Coromandel St John Ambulance - 355 Tiki Road Coromandel
  • Whitianga Town Hall – 22 Monk Street Whitianga
  • Tairua Hall – 210 Main Road Tairua
  • Whangamata Town Hall - 326 Port Road Whangamata
  • Thames Civic Centre - 200 Mary Street Thames

Here's the MetService outlook for the Coromandel:

Heavy rain is expected to ease tonight. In the 12 hours from 9am to 9pm today, 80 to 120mm is forecast to accumulate, in addition to what has already fallen. The heaviest falls are expected from around 3pm, when rainfall rates could reach 25 to 50mm or more with thunderstorms possible.

With the forecast heavy rainfall through until Friday falling on already saturated ground adverse impacts could include effects on the roading network, infrastructure, buildings and the possibility of communities becoming temporarily isolated.

The effects of Cyclone Cook could be significant as it unfolds today.

MetService says 'People should be aware that this is a very significant event and is likely to produce widespread flooding, slips and wind damage, including to powerlines and may even lift roofs and bring down large trees. Driving conditions are likely to be hazardous, so people will need to take extra care on the roads, and even consider altering their Easter travel plans.”

To check for outages and report faults see www.powerco.co.nz/power-cuts.

Tides:

Thames Thurs 13 April - 21:02 - 3.9 m Fri 14 April - 08:35 - 2.8 m and 21:40 - 3.9 m Sat 15 April - 09:53 - 2.8 m and 22:17 - 3.7 m

Whitianga Thurs 13 April - 21:00 - 2.0 m Fri 14 April - 09:16 - 2.0 m and 21:41 - 2.0 m Sat 15 April - 09:56 - 2.0 m and 22:21 - 2.0 m

For more tide times see the MetService Website - Tide time - Coromandel Peninsula.

School Closures:

The Ministry of Education advised that all schools and early learning centres in the Coromandel close today.

Roads Closures:

"Weather and road conditions can change rapidly so check current conditions before you travel. If you do travel, allow extra time for your journey. Be prepared for challenging driving conditions, including debris on the road, and possible detours and road closures," says NZ Transport Agency Highways Manager, Niclas Johansson.

"Consider delaying your journey to and around areas forecast to be significantly impacted by the severe weather – in some areas Civil Defence is advising people not to travel at all," adds Mr Johansson.

"Storm conditions such as wind gusts can also affect high-side vehicles, motorcyclists, and cyclists. Drivers should watch their speeds, take care not to follow too closely, and be careful when taking corners," says Mr Johansson.

State Highway network:

  • SH25 - Thames Coast Road – (Thames to Coromandel) closed. The road between Tararu and The 309 Road is closed (open to emergency services only). Please avoid this area. Northbound traffic is advised to use SH25a to Whitianga, continuing on to Coromandel. South traffic advised the same in reverse.

Local roads:

  • Colville Road closed between Papa Aroha and Amodeo Bay due to trees and slip material
  • Waiomu Valley Road Ford is impassable due to flooding
  • Victoria No.2 Ford is impassable due to flooding
  • We have been advised that a large pine tree that is at the very summit of the Port Charles Road is threatening to fall across the road. Contractors will assess asap.

Members of the public who have been travelling on our roads advise us that there are slips and surface flooding, also we still have road works and traffic management across the Coromandel from last week's downpour so again, please avoid travel if possible, expect delays and drive with caution.

River Levels:

All river levels are rising, to check current levels see the Waikato Regional Council website www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/services/regional-services/river-levels-and-rainfall.

Other:

  • Unfortunately, due to the weather the Whangamata Lions Craft and Farmers Market has been cancelled.
  • Thames Coromandel District libraries: due to Cyclone Cook, Tairua Library will be closed all day today, and Mercury Bay Library will close at 11am. Both libraries will reopen on Tuesday, after the Easter break. Thames Library is still open as usual, and our Thursday Toddler Time and YLC sessions will still go ahead today as normal.

The Whitianga Ferry will stop running between 2PM and 6PM today. It is expected normal service will resume from 6PM, however we will keep you updated.

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