Cyclone coming?

[Glenda]

Wind Warning As Cyclone Wati Approaches
23/03/2006
NewstalkZB

MetService is keeping a close watch on Tropical Cyclone Wati as it approaches New Zealand.

The storm has spent the past few days moving towards the north Queensland coast, close on the heels of Cyclone Larry.

Weather forecaster Bob McDavitt says Wati has been drifting around a bit, but is headed south. He says over the weekend it will probably enter the Tasman Sea and could become a concern for New Zealand.

Mr McDavitt says there is a chance it could meet a large high pressure system currently moving towards the South Island, and produce strong easterly winds over the North Island next week.

Meanwhile, MetService is promoting World Meteorological Day and its theme - preventing and mitigating natural disasters.

It says the theme recognises the fact that 90 percent of all natural disasters are related to weather, climate and water. Mr McDavitt says economic losses from natural disasters around the world are estimated to be around $446 billion per decade.

Last year was the largest financial loss ever recorded over 12 months, mainly due to tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. Mr McDavitt says people should always have a natural disaster emergency kit at hand, containing three days' worth of food and water.

:o

We knew it could come. Are all you guys in the North Island (in particular) prepared? We have several large bottles of water, soft drinks, cans of fruit, soup etc. We have also decided which is the safest room to cower in should things start flying about, including the roof.

Have a surprise visitor this weekend - my 'insignificant other' ::) - and had planned to go up to Cape Reinga. Might have to change our plans. He goes back to the UK on Wednesday ... hope it is not too bumpy a flight. ;D

[SteveyC]

hehe I read that as 'hope it's not too bumpy to fight' which could also be true.

Sounds crazy tho, another reason to keep Claire away from forums for a while anyway. I find it exciting, hope I don't have to learn the hard way, it's clearly not :icon_eek:

[moggy]

It says the theme recognises the fact that 90 percent of all natural disasters are related to weather, climate and water. Mr McDavitt says economic losses from natural disasters around the world are estimated to be around $446 billion per decade.

well if you discount that lot, what other natural disasters are there? I only think of volcanos

Climate change close to home
26 March 2006
By RUTH LAUGESEN

Evidence is growing that New Zealand's climate is changing in line with global warming predictions. Research by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has found the west of New Zealand is generally becoming wetter and the east is getting drier.

Top New Zealand and overseas experts are to meet in Wellington this week for a conference on climate change, organised by Victoria University. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is to address the conference by video link on Wednesday.

This week, parliament is to debate Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' private members bill that would allow local authorities to consider climate change when considering resource consents. That would mean, for example, considering the effect on climate change of a resource consent for a coal-powered power plant.

Climate change forecasts predict that over the coming century, westerly air flows over New Zealand will strengthen, leading to more rain in the west and less in the east. That would mean agriculture in the east, including Canterbury, would suffer from more frequent severe droughts. In the west, erosion and flooding would become more frequent, affecting farming and expensive infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Potential pluses include faster-growing crop and grass growth in many areas because of warmer weather and higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the air. But invasive warm weather pests are also expected to become more of a problem.

Niwa meteorologist Georgina Griffiths studied rainfall gauge data between 1930 and 2004, which showed mean rainfall on the west of both islands had increased. The trend was strongest in South Island areas, where mean rainfall had increased between 10% and 20% since 1930. On the west coast of the North Island, the area between Wellington and Wanganui and north of Taumarunui showed no significant change in rainfall. In the New Plymouth and Taumarunui areas, mean rainfall had increased between 5% and 20%.

On the east coast of the North Island, mean rainfall varied between no significant change at some locations to a 25% decrease. On the east coast of the South Island, mean rainfall varied between no change and a 15% decrease.

Dr David Wratt, head of Niwa's National Climate Centre, said the findings were significant. "This is what's predicted in the climate models, so it suggests things are changing in the direction we expect," he said. Was it also possible that the changes in rainfall were part of normal climate variability?

"We can't be absolutely sure, because the climate does vary for various reasons. While it's reasonably straightforward to attribute changes at the global level or over large regions to climate change, it does get more difficult when you get down to small areas like New Zealand."

After reading that report, IMO they cannot have a clue what the weather is going to do here over the next century. Why? Because they can't be trusted to get it right a couple of days in advance!

We didn't get Cyclone Wati ... it dissipitated into a low depression and kept mostly out at sea. Not too disappointed really ... kinda like the roof on the house. :icon_wink:

We did get a day and night's non-stop rain and a bit of tree branch damage. Supposedly getting more of the same tomorrow ... unless they get it wrong again. Then I hear it is moving towards the area Taffy lives.

:icon_lol:

Then I hear it is moving towards the area Taffy lives.

That'll teach him to forget is old mum on Mothers' Day. >:(


;)

Surprise tornado shakes up Waikato residents
19 April 2006
By TAMARA PENNIKET



Baz Lowe lost his roof when a 50-metre wide tornado hit farms southeast of Leamington yesterday. The tornado left a 2km trail of damaged sheds, fences, trees and overturned machinery.

Mr Lowe, a drystock farmer in Redoubt Rd, saw an olive tree slam into his house and break windows just as his roof blew off about 1pm. 'The door blew in, we jumped out of the way of flying glass, then we heard our roof go. It was frightening.'

Mr Lowe and his friend Ian McDonald saw sparks fly as the corrugated iron roof landed on power lines. 'Half the roof is gone and most of the chimney is in the swimming pool,' Mr Lowe said. Firefighters covered Mr Lowe's roof but it was about five hours before power was restored.

Neighbour John Boyd saw the tornado go over Mr Lowe's house and head toward his own. 'It was scary, it missed, but the house was shaking and stuff was going everywhere.'

Helen Watt's Maungatautari Rd farm lost several sheds. 'I could see the rain come, it was really heavy, then debris was falling everywhere.'

The MetService was surprised a tornado had hit but said a lot of rain fell in a narrow path in the Waikato yesterday.

Hundreds forced to flee wild weather
27.04.06

Hundreds of homeowners last night began cleaning up their sodden properties after torrential rains doused much of coastal Otago. More than 300 homes were evacuated in Mosgiel, south of Dunedin, and rural homes on nearby plains were cut off by floodwaters. Some residents had to be rescued by helicopter at the tiny seaside settlement of Waitati, north of Dunedin. Volunteers sandbagged some other Waitati properties to protect them from an expected influx at high tide.

Civil Defence sirens were triggered in Oamaru, and State Highway 1 was closed. In Dunedin the banks of the Leith slid away and a set of stairs at St Clair was badly damaged by strong seas. In what was described as a 'very unusual weather event', about 24mm of rain fell on the southern city in 15 minutes. In the worst-hit areas of the Taieri plain, residents were bracing themselves again last night as rivers were forecast to reach 'very high levels'.

Dunedin Civil Defence manager Neil Brown said emergency staff would monitor the Taieri River. At 11am yesterday the river was running nearly 6m above normal.

Silverstream resident Steve Fitzgerald said he waited in his two-storey house to be evacuated as a brown surge of water gushed by just metres away. 'I've lived here for 20-odd years and this is the worse I've ever seen it. The water was a bit of a dribble at six o'clock this morning ... what's surprised me is how quickly it has risen.'

Part-time Taieri farmer Justin Geddes said most farmers had moved their stock earlier in the morning preparing for the Taieri River to break its banks, only to have Silverstream tip over. 'I got a call from the regional council when I was waist deep in water telling me the Taieri was getting ready to peak, and I said Silverstream has already gone ... 'What do I think about that? I think it was a little late.'

Damage reports are expected to pour in today as people assess their properties. Hydro electricity lakes also received a boast from the downfall, but Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay said more rain was needed.

Overall the Waitaki River power station system was up by 14 per cent, taking Lake Tekapo to 65 per cent of its required level, and Lake Pukaki to 50 per cent.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES, NZPA

Jeez, it really is quite volatile over there isn't. The amount of stories we've heard just since I've been a member of the forum certainly paints a slightly different picture to the standard that other websites suggest, NZ tourism etc. For me it's not a bad thing at all, perhaps it will once my house has been ruined a few times but at the mo, I'm quite excited by wild a stormy tales and a change from the monotony of British drizzle.

You're right, Stevey. The weather isn't going to be boring, which is good.They're just giving the place a good wash down before you get there.



Floods hit upper North Island
28.04.06 12.45pm UPDATE

Torrential rain has closed roads and caused serious surface flooding overnight from Whangaparaoa north of Auckland, through the Coromondel to Waihi and Tauranga. The Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi in the Hauraki District was closed for several hours as a metre of water flowed over the surface of the road.

Worst hit on Whangaparaoa was Red Beach, where a number of buildings were flooded and there was also a problem with tidal flooding. Elsewhere, there are a number of slips around the Torbay area on the North Shore. The fire service was dealing with dozens of callouts. Also on the North Shore, an electrical storm knocked out power to sewage pumping stations, leading to sewage spills in Hillcrest, Birkenhead and Beach Haven (One for you to note, Thrrp.) .

A severe weather warning has been issued for the Bay of Plenty, with MetService predicting rain with isolated heavy thundery downpours in the Kaimai Ranges and west of Whakatane in particular. There is already surface flooding in parts of Tauranga and some homes have had computer and other electrical problems from lightning. Police said this morning that several main roads around the Hauraki Plains remained marginal after the rain. Several schools were closed because of the flooding.

Two trucks were stranded in Karangahake Gorge but were on high ground and the drivers were not in danger. The first calls for help came in at 4am. Police and firefighters had been out since then helping motorists and flooded residents. Police said the Karangahake Gorge would open at noon. Heavy earthmoving equipment would have to be brought in to clear several slips of rocks and trees. They had road blocks at either end of the Karangahake Gorge road, at Waihi and Paeroa, but soon after daylight a woman was rescued from her car after she entered the gorge road from a side road, unaware it was flooded.

Senior Sergeant Brian Miller from the Waihi police said the woman drove into flood water and her car stopped. 'She's okay', he said. 'Her car is still in the water half way through the gorge. She was lucky.'

Mr Miller said the Ohinemuri River through the gorge was flowing fast and was very high but not as high as the disastrous floods of 1981, which swept houses and shops away in the middle of the gorge. Mr Miller said the water level in the gorge was rising and falling rapidly but it seemed the flood may be abating. 'We are keeping our fingers crossed,' he said.

State Highway 26 between Paeroa and Te Aroha was closed, and SH26 between Paeroa and Kopu near Thames was open at first light, but police said it was marginal. Police said SH25 between Waihi and Whangamata was also closed due to slips and flooding, but later re-opened. SH25 and 25A, at the turn off from Hikuwai to Whangamata, was closed due to flooding from Wharekawa River.

'Parts of many roads in the area are subject to surface flooding and motorists are advised to take extreme care, postpone non-essential travel, and listen to local radio stations for updates,' said Inspector Ian Brooker from the police Northern Communications Centre in Auckland.

Additional staff from Thames, Paeroa and Te Aroha were called out to help with the floods and road closures. At Paeroa on the western side of the Karangahape Gorge there had been a great deal of rain but no flooding. The road between Paeroa and Kopu was still open but marginal because of the debris strewn across the road and police were advising motorists to take extreme care.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB