STORM ALERT – TORRENTIAL RAIN DRENCHING NORTHLAND, SEVERE GALES POUNDING HAURAKI GULF
9/07/2007 12:00pm
> From the WeatherWatch archives
– AIR PRESSURE PLUMMETING – WORSE TO COME
– GALES NOW CREEPING INTO EASTERN WAIKATO
Torrential rain is falling across Northland and the worst news is that the storm is still intensifying. TRN’s Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan says the air pressure is dropping rapidly and the winds are picking up. “Winds are averaging about 100km/h across the Hauraki Gulf and gusting up to 122km/h”. He predicts winds will reach 140km/h to 150km/h this afternoon. “In land there are more obstacles to slow the wind down, but north of Auckland winds could still reach 120km/h. This winds could easily bring down powerlines, lift roofs and make driving hazardous”.
Islands near Paihia are now clocking winds of 146km/h while further south in Tutukaka winds are reaching 125km/h.
“The storm has now broken in two centres, basically one to the west and one to the east of Cape Reinga”.
In the eastern Waikato, where winds are expected to pick up later today and tonight, gusts are now starting to reach gale force with 70km/h clocked in the past hour.
Mr Duncan says the rain will almost certainly cause flooding in some areas and farmers, motorists and residents need to be vigilant of rapidly rising streams and rivers. “Northland is getting the worst of these storms”.
“This is a significant weather event – those north of Waikato are in for a very rough 24 hours”.
Meanwhile conditions are relatively normal across New Zealand, however it’s still below zero across central and inland South Island.
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