Damaging easterly gusts expected as ex-cyclone approaches New Zealand

The tail of ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola, which caused extensive damage as it smashed through parts of Vanuatu earlier this week, has merged with another trough as it bears down on the upper North Island.

MetService has issued several severe weather warnings as a result, with heavy rain warnings in place for Northland and Coromandel Peninsula from later Sunday into Monday morning and for Tai Rāwhiti/Gisborne, from Tolaga Bay northwards, through Monday and into the evening.

Lanes have been closed on and off on the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Sunday and were likely to continue with intermittent closures overnight.

Wind gusts reached 95kmh over the bridge.

Waka Kotahi is still urging motorists to take care, especially high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Meanwhile severe weather warnings and watches remain in place for the eastern and upper North Island.

Fallen trees and vegetation debris in powerlines have caused outages for nearly 900 households across Northland.

More detail on the severe weather warnings and watches and the weather ahead for the next day with Meteorologist John Law pic.twitter.com/MPJTuw7DtX

— MetService (@MetService) October 29, 2023

A strong wind warning is also in place for Northland, with easterly gales expected to hit Auckland, north of Whangaparaoa, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula later on Sunday as the weather system slowly moves south.

MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said the remnants of Cyclone Lola had “picked up a bit of another system” as it approached New Zealand and the combination of the two was causing the bad weather.

While things would not get as bad as they had in Vanuatu, people should keep up to date with the latest forecasts, she said.

In Northland, fallen trees cut the power for more than 30 households in Maungaturoto, north of Warkworth.

Gisborne would be next in line for heavy rain from early on Monday morning, persisting into the evening, MetService said.

Heavy rain watches were also due to come into effect for the area of Tai Rāwhiti – south of Tolaga Bay – and the western ranges of Hawke’s Bay, from late on Monday morning.