Weather warnings as Hola approaches

Rain is moving down the North Island today. Image: MetService.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty as Cyclone Hola heads towards NZ.

A period of bad weather is being forecast for this morning from about 11am and this is expected to ease early Tuesday morning around 1am.

"It looks like we are in for a wet and windy day in The Coromandel however our high tides are relatively low and we are not expecting anything extreme," says Julian Snowball, Thames Valley Emergency Operating Area Controller.

A strong wind warning remains in place, which is expected to move south-eastwards today bringing winds gusts of 110km/h in exposed places possible and heavy rain to northern and eastern parts of the North Island (including the Coromandel), during today until early Tuesday before moving away from the country.

The strongest winds and heaviest rain associated with Hola are expected to remain offshore.

However, significant rainfall is still likely in The Coromandel and a heavy rain warning remains in force.

The heavy rain and wind could cause coastal inundation and streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are possible and driving conditions may be hazardous, MetService advises.

For The Coromandel, rain is expected to become heavy at approximately 11am then ease with another heavy downfall expected around 8pm this evening, and possibly between 11pm and 1am. 70-100mm is expected to accumulate over the next 12 hours, with peak intensities of 20-30mm per hour.

"Please take care if you are travelling over the next 24 hours and we advise only travel if necessary, however at this stage we have no reports of road closures or power outages and will continue monitor Hola," says Julian.

Check MetService for the latest weather updates.

Be prepared:

  • Torches and fresh batteries
  • Ample drinking water and emergency food supplies
  • An alternative means of cooking source if power is cut
  • If your property is in a low-lying area, check if you need to move items to higher ground.
  • Put away loose items and tie down trampolines or anything else that could be blown around in strong winds.

NZ Civil Defence has prepared the Get Ready, Get Thru website with lots of information about planning for emergencies. If you get ready, then you can get through.

It's also important to stay informed before, during and after emergencies. The more avenues of communication available to you, the better.

Here are some we recommend:

Check MetService for the latest weather forecasts on this weather system.

Red Cross Hazards App - alerts about hazards. Download from the App Store or Google Play.

Local radio - Check stations and frequencies here.

Emergency Mobile Alert - these can be sent to your mobile phone, without needing to download an app or sign up. Check if your phone is capable of receiving them, here

Know your neighbours - phone each other, especially vulnerable people, to check if they're OK.

Waikato Regional Council has set up an online hub for rainfall and flood-related information to help people more easily keep up to date with severe weather events in the region. It can be found at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/services/regional-services/regional-hazards-and-emergency-management/flood-room.

We will post regular updates on our Council's Facebook page as well as on our website and email newsletters.

Also follow Waikato Civil Defence on Facebook here and check out their website for updates here.

We'll also include updates on known local Council road closures. If you see a Council road that is impassable due to flooding or a debris, call us on 07 868 0200. If the issue is with a State Highway (eg, the Thames Coast Road, Kopu-Hikuai Road) please tell NZ Transport Agency on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the call centre team who can also provide traffic and travel information.

Check NZTA's website before you travel for the latest information about road closures or work underway. You can also use their journey-planning website www.onthemove.govt.nz to plan the best route for your journey, taking into account known issues and traffic on state highways.

To report a power outage, contact Powerco or your provider.

For more on these channels, and other information about staying informed in emergencies, go to the Civil Defence "Never Happens" website.

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