Pollyana

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.

ISSUED BY MetService AT 8:44 pm 14-Mar-2015
SEVERE SOUTHEAST GALES AND HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHEASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND LATE SUNDAY AND MUCH OF MONDAY
Tropical Cyclone Pam, currently located over waters south of Vanuatu, is forecast to track southeastwards over the weekend and pass east of New Zealand during Monday and Tuesday. Strong southeast winds and rain expected over much of the North Island late Sunday and Monday, along with extremely large seas about the east coast.

Around 200mm of rain is expected to accumulate about Gisborne, and the ranges of northern Hawkes Bay and eastern Bay of Plenty, with lesser but still significant amounts near the coast of northern Hawkes Bay and the hills and ranges further south. Rivers and streams in these areas will rise rapidly and localised surface flooding and slips are likely as well as hazardous driving conditions.

In addition, severe southeast gales are likely about Eastern Northland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula overnight Sunday, then about Gisborne and Bay of Plenty for a time Monday, with gusts of 120 km/h in places, but 160 km/h or possibly more about the eastern Bay of Plenty. Winds of this strength are likely to cause damage to trees and powerlines and could lift roofs and make for hazardous driving conditions.

This is a developing situation and people are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts as further areas may be added to this Warning.

HEAVY RAIN WARNING
AREA/S AFFECTED
Gisborne and the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty
FORECAST
A period of heavy rain is expected from Sunday evening until Monday evening. In the 24 hours from 9pm Sunday until 9pm Monday, expect 120 to 140mm to accumulate but 180 to 220mm about the ranges and places north of Gisborne City.Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm/hr.

AREA/S AFFECTED
Hawkes Bay
FORECAST
A period of heavy rain is expected from Sunday evening until Monday evening, especially about the ranges and places north of Napier. In the 24 hours from 9pm Sunday until 9pm Monday; north of Napier, expect 180 to 200mm to accumulate about the ranges with 100 to 140mm near the coast, and south of Napier, expect 100 to 140mm to accumulate about the ranges and coastal hills. Peak intensities 20 to 25mm/hr about the northern ranges.

STRONG WIND WARNING
AREA/S AFFECTED
Bay of Plenty especially east of Edgecumbe, and Gisborne
FORECAST
Southeasterlies are expected to rise to severe gale for a time during Monday. Between 1am and 7pm Monday expect severe southeast gales, with gusts of 120 km/h likely but 160 km/h or possibly more about the eastern Bay of Plenty.

AREA/S AFFECTED
Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Eastern Northland
FORECAST
Southeasterlies are expected to rise to gale late Sunday afternoon, then to severe gale gusting 120km/h Sunday night, before tending southerly and weakening Monday morning.

NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 9:00 am Sunday 15-Mar-2015

http://www.metservice.com/warnings/s...ather-warnings

MrsFychan

thanks Polly, been all over the news so hopefully people they may be in its line will of made preparations

scrubbedexpat094

Wind has picked up here overnight but nothing untoward as yet. Brought stuff in from the garden yesterday and have supplies of wine and chocolate at the ready!

Heart does go out the people of Vanuatu. We were in Port Vila a couple of years ago and it wasn't the most prosperous of places, hopefully plenty of aid will help the people get back on their feet.

Pollyana

First team is lined up to go over from Australia as soon as they can land safely, and we have been told that more teams will follow (I work in Disaster Management so we are involved in the logisitics of sending teams over). We are also anticipating recieving evacuations of Aussies from the islands i the next week or so. I'm sure more countries will join in with aid as the picture becomes clearer. Most reports so far are only of Port Vila, with a possible 80% of homes destroyed/badly damaged.

Charismatic

Got my shot gun, bible tapes and tins of baked beans ma'am .

Although it's looking more like brolly, wellies and parka weather.

Bo-Jangles

Even though it's been all over the news, all I have heard is for folks on the East Cape / Gisborne Region to be prepared from tonight (Sunday night / Monday Morning).

This morning I read a comment that said 'MetService meteorologist Peter Little said north-eastern parts of the North Island from Northland down into the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's bay should brace for strong weather on Sunday evening.'

Looking at the wind gusting around us this morning I think that perhaps the guys from Metservice need to get out more or at least get some windows in their office.

My prediction is it's going to be a rough old day for many of us and we should all make preparations at least for power being out - knowing how fragile or power is, I'll be giving the kite surfing a miss today and will charge batteries on camping lights, get my dinner going asap and put some boiling water into a flask.

MrsFychan

hoping its going to down grade to category 2 as predicted before it hits land and everyone stays safe

MrsFychan

this taken from a update from WREMOnz
"110 km gusts may seem like business as usual in Wellington" now if only someone had told me that before we moved.

Charismatic

There might be a tropical cyclone thing in Gizzy but I'm down in North Wairarapa and pegging out washing. Despite weather forecasts advising the imminent need for Arks it's been a good afternoon .

It looks like Vanuatu may need a hand back to it's feet again however.