THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS.

Flood waters are rising across the Waikato tonight.  This photo shows how quickly the region has gone from drought to flood.  Photo taken at Maratoto, courtesy Remco Remmelink.

Due to massive demand today our mailbox is full!  So thank you all very much for taking the time to send in your pics.  We hope to display as many of the images as possible sometime during Thursday…we know this is quite a delay and we’ll ensure that next time we’ll have the resources in place to handle the extra workload!  Because weatherwatch.co.nz is a brand new site we’re still finding our way as to what to expect from you guys.  Today was overwhelming, which was fantastic!!  Thank you all so much for your support, your pics and your comments.  

GOT PICS TO SEND?  Please hold on to them and send them through on Thursday afternoon.

Regards

The Weather Watch Team

LATEST NEWS

SEVERE GALES have been battering the lower North Island and west coast of the South Island this afternoon and going in to tonight.  The low pressure system which is moving near the Taranaki Coast is pressing up against a large high to the east creating extremely strong winds over the South Island.  The Weather Watch Centre expects hurricane force winds (up to 180km/h) through central parts of the South Island tonight.

Roofs have lifted, swells have destroyed beach front homes in Napier, slips are blocking highways and river levels through the Waikato are rising.  “This has been a major storm – by far the biggest to affect New Zealand in a long time.  It’s now moving in to the South Island with most rain easing over the North Island, however plenty of heavy showers are now popping up” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

The back end of the storm is now moving in to northern New Zealand bringing with it heavy showers and gales.  “Winds are gusting to 130km/h at Cape Reinga and up to 120km/h around exposed coastal parts of Auckland.  Strong winds are also being experienced around northern and eastern Waikato and in Rotorua”.

Heavy down pours are moving over Northland, Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay tonight, putting more stress on raging rivers and streams.

Further south and winds have eased significantly across the lower North Island, along with the rain. 

Heavy rain is moving in to Kaikoura and Christchurch this evening with surface flooding a definite possibility.

Tomorrow morning we’ll have an indepth report from our South Island weather analyst Richard Green.