Cyclone Gabrielle: State of Emergency declared as Northland hit by power outages, road closures

A precautionary state of emergency has been declared for Northland, where a number of roads have been closed due to flooding and thousands are without power, as Cyclone Gabrielle bears down on the upper North Island.

Gale force winds have been recorded at many sites across the Northland region: 90km/h​ gusts at Kaitaia; 95km​ at Purerua, 80km​ at Kerikeri and Cape Reinga – a more exposed site – recorded a 140km​ gust.

The state of emergency was declared at 4.30pm on Sunday, for an initial period of seven days.

Have you been affected by the weather in Northland? Email aucklandnewsroom@stuff.co.nz

An emergency mobile alert advising of the declaration was being sent to phones (with the capacity to receive these) in Northland.

READ MORE:
* Auckland Harbour Bridge shut due to severe wind gusts as Cyclone Gabrielle moves in
* ‘This one has us worried’: New Zealand prepares for Cyclone Gabrielle
* Here’s what we know about Cyclone Gabrielle’s expected landfall

MetService has issued a red heavy rain warning for the Northland region covering the 36-hour period from noon on Sunday to midnight on Monday, forecasting up to 200-300mm​ of rain south of about Kaeo, and 100-180mm​ elsewhere over this period.

There is a strong (red) wind warning valid from noon Sunday to 9pm Tuesday​, with MetService forecasting severe gales reaching 120-130km​ or “possibly higher” from Monday, depending on how Cyclone Gabrielle is tracking.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane​ said there had been upwards of 40 to 100mm​ of rain across the Northland region since 12am on Sunday.

Up to 4.30pm, the Whangārei Airport weather station recorded 93mm​ of rain since midnight; 65mm​ at Kaihohe; 50mm​ in Kerikeri, and 38mm​ at Cape Reinga.

Makgabutlane said they are expecting big rainfall accumulations associated with the weather event across the country, with the heaviest rain – and the bulk of the rain – due to hit on Monday.

Fire and Emergency communication centres national manager Gavin Travers said crews responded to 31 weather-related calls between 6am and 4pm on Sunday – most were in Northland, but the number of calls from Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula have started to increase.

Power outages

Earlier on Sunday, about 13,000 households were without power across Northland – which had decreased to approximately 8000 as of 7.30pm, Northpower (covering the Kaipara and Whangārei districts) said.

If people were without power, it is “very likely you will be without power overnight, and possibly for several days”, Northpower said on its website.

The weather event was expected to worsen over the next day or so which may result in further outages.

“Until this wind abates it is not safe to begin repairs.”

At 9pm, Top Energy (covering the Far North) website showed about 4900 customers were being affected by unplanned power outages.

Roads closed, water pressure issues

Whangārei District Council has advised people may notice reduced water pressure due to power outages, and urged people to fill some large bottles as an emergency supply if they haven’t already.

At 7.15pm, they asked that – where possible – people reduced flushing the toilet, especially in Tutukaka.

At 9.10pm, six roads were closed in Whangārei due to flooding and fallen trees, with a further 10 impacted but passable with caution, the council advised.

Rubbish collection in Whangārei was on hold until further notice, and rural transfer stations were closed until Tuesday, it advised.

Civil Defence Northland is advising people to delay any unnecessary travel if possible.

Access Road and Neems Road had been closed due to fallen trees, Kaipara District Council earlier advised. Glinks Rd was down to one lane due to a fallen tree.

Civil Defence Centre opens

A Civil Defence Centre has opened at McKay Stadium Kensington in Whangārei for people who need to leave their homes, Civil Defence Northland says.

People are advised to stay with friends and family where possible if their home becomes too dangerous to stay in. If you have nowhere else to go, go to 97 Western Hills Drive, where they can arrange basic accommodation.

The whole of the North Island is on a severe weather warning for strong wind – with Northland, Coromandel, Auckland including Great Barrier Island on the highest wind alert.

Lisa Murray, MetService’s head of weather communications said: “I can’t remember a time when the whole of the North Island was on a wind warning. This is a huge sprawling weather system affecting the country.”