Rain and wind warnings are in place for much of the North Island as a hastily escalating storm approaches.

MetService public weather services manager Peter Kreft has stated that the unnamed low (which originated in the tropics)  is coming from the coast of Queensland and is more intense than the current “typical” winter storm. Damaging gales and very heavy downpours were possible in many North Island areas, whilst strong winds would create perfidious seas.

"This is no ordinary storm. It's one of the largest and deepest lows we've seen for some years," he said.
"By the time this system reaches northern New Zealand on Saturday, it is likely to have significant destructive potential."

The low is forecast to cross Cape Reinga late Saturday afternoon, continuing to move southeastwards near the Coromandel Peninsula at midnight and near East Cape by midday Sunday.

The heaviest rain is predicted in Northland, northern Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, with the wind predicted strong enough to cause damage and make driving hazardous, MetService said.

Further to Wellington’s already windy last few days, gusts of around to 120kmh have been forecast in Wellington, Manawatu, the Central North Island, Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, eastern Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne.

A southerly storm again affected ferry sailings to and from Wellington this morning, with swells of up to 7m forecast in the Cook Strait.
Two sailings had been confirmed cancelled this morning by KiwiRail spokesman Nigel Parry and three passenger sailings were cancelled yesterday, as well as several overnight freight ferries.

"We are expecting the weather to be rough for a little while but what we don't know yet is how rough for how long.

"But that (wind and rain) doesn't affect our sailings, it's the state of the seas themselves.

"We'll be making a decision (on later sailings) later on this morning."

Furthemore, more than 1000 people had their travel plans disrupted when more than 20 flights were cancelled out of Wellington Airport yesterday, which recorded wind gusts of up to 100kmh. Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Mills said high winds had prevented planes taking off or landing. Flights were landing and leaving this morning, although there were some delays.

Update - Saturday morning, 26th July 2008

Another, more severe period of rainfall is predicted to hit Auckland on Wednesday. See rain radar below!

Tags: New Zealand, weather