> From the WeatherWatch archives
Auckland being slammed by severe gales
Northern regions at Hurricane Force.
If this was a tropical cyclone it would be a Category 2 even Category 3 storm. TRN’s Head Weather Analyst says winds off the Whangaparaoa Peninsula are tonight gusting to 172km/h so far. “According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology category 2 cyclones have gusts to 169km/h and category 3 cyclones gust from 170 to 224. This is the strongest weather system to pass over the north in many years”.
Cyclones go up to Category 5, with maximum wind gusts of more than 280km/h.
Auckland city is currently preparing for a very dangerous night ahead with cyclone force winds, trees down, roads flooded and for some – a night in the dark as power lines are cut. Parts of west Auckland were without power this evening and small power surges are being experienced across the city.
“This is about as horrible as it gets in Auckland” says Duncan. “Winds of this strength and from this direction are not that common. Damage is definitely likely”.
He says winds of this speed can fell trees, lift roofs and cause structural damage. “I’ve seen some twisted road signs and branches pulled off trees already…and winds in the city could double.
“As I type, things are crashing around outside…it’s pretty scary”.
The rain radar in the north has also been knocked out by power problems, but the a brief glimpse this afternoon showed rain bands easing over the north.
Eastern Waikato towns should be bracing themselves for winds over up to 200km/h tonight if this system continues to move further south.
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Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 9 Jul 2007.
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