As predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz last night the government forecaster has this afternoon added wind warnings to their line up of severe weather warnings for northern New Zealand.

The wind warnings, issued by MetService in the past hour, cover Eastern Northland, the outer Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Islands.

WeatherWatch.co.nz has today been predicting these specific areas would feel the brunt of Wilma’s strongest winds overnight tonight and early tomorrow.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says people need to be aware that the winds will start up quite quickly and will escalate rapidly.

“This is very different to the usual lows we get in New Zealand.  There’s no real gradually rise, it just suddenly moves in within an hour or so”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz has been sent numerous updates today on weather conditions across the upper North Island with most reporting that the rain is now setting in.

“Some areas are getting winds, but this is mostly related to a departing high to the east of New Zealand.  Wilma’s true winds won’t move in until late tonight and early tomorrow morning”.

Mr Duncan says Wilma’s centre will be incredibly close to eastern Northland tonight.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the strongest area of winds associated with the system will hit Northland, Great Barrier Island and East Cape.

Populated places most exposed to tonight’s predicted severe gales will be KeriKeri, Whangarei, Kamo, the Bay of Islands and Tutukaka.    WeatherWatch.co.nz says Great Barrier Island may be the closest land to the centre of the low as it passes by in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“This storm is no “fizzer”, it is serious and quite dangerous but thankfully it is not making a direct hit on the upper North Island” says Mr Duncan.  “It would be quite a major event if this low was 200kms further west, taking it nearer to Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga”.

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WeatherWatch.co.nz’s service tonight…

We will provide another update before 7pm with the latest maps, including tracking, rainfall, wind and swells.  We will then simply take updates on weather conditions from WeatherWatch.co.nz readers.  Later this evening will bring you updates again, most likely around 10 or 11pm, as the low gets closer.  We will review conditions then as to what further updates will be required.  We appreciate all the comments and observations that have been provided today – thank you.

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Official Weather Warnings

Northland

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Northland In the 14 hours from 4pm Friday to 6am Saturday, expect 100 to 150mm rain, with 200mm possible about the eastern hills. The heaviest rain is expected overnight, when rates may reach 30 to 50mm per hour. Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Northland and about theislands of the outer Hauraki Gulf, especially Great Barrier Island Southeast winds are expected to rise to gale this evening and turn gale southwest early Saturday morning, with gusts of 130 km/h likely in exposed places for a time overnight. The southwest gales should ease later Saturday morning.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Auckland

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Auckland In the 16 hours from 4pm Friday to 8am Saturday, expect 100mm for many places, and 150mm in northern and eastern areas and the islands of the Gulf. The heaviest falls are expected in the early hours of Saturday morning when rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour. Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Northland and about theislands of the outer Hauraki Gulf, especially Great Barrier Island Southeast winds are expected to rise to gale this evening and turn gale southwest early Saturday morning, with gusts of 130 km/h likely in exposed places for a time overnight. The southwest gales should ease later Saturday morning.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Waikato

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Bay of Plenty In the 18 hours from 4pm Friday to 10am Saturday, expect 100mm in many places, with 200mm possible about parts of Coromandel Peninsula, the Kaimai ranges and the ranges of Bay of Plenty. The heaviest falls are expected early Saturday morning when rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour, especially in Coromandel Peninsula.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Coromandel

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Bay of Plenty In the 18 hours from 4pm Friday to 10am Saturday, expect 100mm in many places, with 200mm possible about parts of Coromandel Peninsula, the Kaimai ranges and the ranges of Bay of Plenty. The heaviest falls are expected early Saturday morning when rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour, especially in Coromandel Peninsula.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Bay Of Plenty

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Bay of Plenty In the 18 hours from 4pm Friday to 10am Saturday, expect 100mm in many places, with 200mm possible about parts of Coromandel Peninsula, the Kaimai ranges and the ranges of Bay of Plenty. The heaviest falls are expected early Saturday morning when rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour, especially in Coromandel Peninsula.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Rotorua

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Bay of Plenty In the 18 hours from 4pm Friday to 10am Saturday, expect 100mm in many places, with 200mm possible about parts of Coromandel Peninsula, the Kaimai ranges and the ranges of Bay of Plenty. The heaviest falls are expected early Saturday morning when rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour, especially in Coromandel Peninsula.
Issued: 4:13 pm 28 Jan 2011 NZDT

Gisborne

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Gisborne Heavy rain is expected to spread south this evening, then clear about midday Saturday. In the 18 hours from 6pm Friday to midday Saturday, expect 80 to 100mm rain for most places, but 150mm north of Ruatoria. Rainfall rates may reach 25 to 50mm per hour in the north during Saturday morning.

– Warnings issued by MetService

– WeatherWatch.co.nz