UPDATED 3.30PM: Coastguard has recorded a peak wind speed of 106 knots (196.1km/h) and an average speed of 55 knots (101.8km/h) at White Island this afternoon.
While according to MetService, Tauranga Airport recorded a peak wind speed of 31 knots (57.8km/h) and an average of 17 knots (31.5km/h) shortly after 3pm.
Heavy rain is now falling in the Bay of Plenty as ex-cyclone Cook tracks towards the region.
The storm is expected to fully hit the BOP between 3pm and 6pm.
Evacuations have already been carried out in the Coromandel area in preparation for the storm and people are being warned to self-evacuate in the BOP if they are feeling unsafe.
The NZDF is also on standby to help out with any evacuations if needed.
SunLive will continue to bring you regular updates throughout the night as the storm passes through the region.
Check out some of the photos below of flooding and slips in the Coromandel and BOP:
Owharoa Falls in flood.
Waterfall on Kopu Hikuai Rd. Photo: Carina Julian/Coromandel Peninsula Road Status.
The same stretch of road. Photo: Cameron Avery.
Photo: Cameron Avery.
The defence force is on standby to help out if needed.
Beginnings of #CycloneCook at #mountmaunganui #nz pic.twitter.com/dIyheKcIM2
— Juliet Rowan (@Juliet_Rowan) April 13, 2017
1 comment
Thank God..
Posted on 13-04-2017 19:15 | By maildrop
..Nobody lives on White Island. What drivel. May as well pick a spot in the middle of the Southern Ocean and give us the wind speed. Nonsense. Media driven crap. Sucked in by plebs.
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