MetService has upgraded its watches and warnings this morning, issuing a red level wind warning for Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island ahead of Cyclone Vaianu's expected landfall on Sunday.
Preliminary yellow heavy rain and strong wind watches were already in place as forecasters closely monitored the expected path of the cyclone.
Shortly before 10am, MetService upgraded warnings and watches, including to a red level strong wind warning for Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island from Sunday morning.
"Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move southwards across the North Island on Sunday, 12 April. Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula have been upgraded to a red warning for wind," it said.
"The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event" the forecaster said.
"The locations of the most severe impacts associated with Cyclone Vaianu, such as power outages, falling trees, flooding, slips, road closures and isolated communities are highly dependent on the cyclone's track."
Gusts of up to 140km/h were possible in the Coromandel and Great Barrier Island.
Strong wind and heavy rain watches and warnings were in force for much of the North Island and upper South Island Sunday and early Monday.
"Further areas are likely to be upgraded to orange or red as the cyclone approaches and it's track becomes clearer."
This morning, meteorologist Heather Keats said despite being downgraded to a category 2 cyclone, the threat and impacts of the system would be significant, and warranted the highest level alert.
Red warnings were reserved for the most extreme weather events, where significant impacts and disruption were expected.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said despite being downgraded overnight, TC Vaianu was "still a very large, damaging system". (Source: Breakfast)
Emergency agencies poised
Earlier this morning, NEMA and Acting Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk urged people to prepare properly and take heed of the warnings.
Penk told Breakfast all emergency agencies including NEMA, civil defence, local councils, first responders and Army, Navy and Air Force were "preparing for the worst".
"From a defence force point of view, that means having assets in the right places. There are air assets of course, with fixed-wing aircraft and also helicopters but also personnel and of course large vehicles that may be needed.
"Of course, you can't prepare exactly in the sense that you don't know where the effects will be felt most fully, and when, but they're prepositioning as the best they can to anticipate whatever might be needed as we head into the weekend."
He said right now, they were preparing in the North Island, but "can't be complacent" about the South Island, which could also feel the severe weather impacts as it tracks down.
"The obvious point to make is that most vulnerable areas of the North Island will be those who have already suffered severe weather events this year."
He said the Defence Force and all Government agencies anticipated the need in these communities to be the greatest.
"The system as a whole is preparing, and from a power point of view there is the risk high winds that will take out power lines... From a household and individual community point of view, to be as prepared as possible for the potential loss of power including checking on those who are more vulnerable," he said.
Current watches and warnings
Strong Wind Warning – Red
Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island – 13 hours from 5am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Northland, about and south of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour – 12 hours from 9pm Saturday to 9am Sunday.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 12 hours from 2am Sunday to 2pm Sunday.
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne including Rotorua – 14 hours from 2am Sunday to 4pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay – 14 hours from 2am Sunday to 4pm Sunday.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Northland – 15 hours from 11pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday.
Auckland – 19 hours from 9pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday.
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Taumarunui – 12 hours from 10am Sunday to 10pm Sunday.
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua – 15 hours from 4am Sunday to 7pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and Taihape – 16 hours from 10am Sunday to 2am Monday.
Taranaki and Whanganui – 10 hours from 1pm Sunday to 11pm Sunday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland north of Bay of Islands to Hokianga Harbour – 12 hours from 7pm Saturday to 7am Sunday.
Waikato – 15 hours from 3am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatāne – 15 hours from 6am Sunday to 9pm Sunday.
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti about and south of Tolaga Bay, Hawke’s Bay ranges, and coastal hills south of Napier – 16 hours from 2am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki – 12 hours from 8am Sunday to 8pm Sunday.
Wairarapa, including the Tararua District, also eastern and southern parts of Wellington – 12 hours from 11am Sunday to 11pm Sunday.
Marlborough Sounds, including northeastern areas north of Kaikōura – 10 hours from 2pm Sunday to midnight Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Manawatū, Kapiti Coast and Wellington – 19 hours from 11am Sunday to 6am Monday.
Wairarapa, including the Tararua District – 21 hours from noon Sunday to 9am Monday.
SHARE ME