5.50 pm, 6 December 2012

Tornado event and severe weather at Whenuapai, Hobsonville and other parts of Auckland

The latest information Auckland Council Civil Defence have on this afternoon’s tornado and torrential rain is:

Transport is difficult in many parts of Auckland and everyone should take care. If you’re about to head home, you should take some time to plan your journey, there could be delays.

There is surface flooding or debris on some roads, particularly in West Auckland. Motorists need to travel to the conditions and take care. If you can avoid using the roads, please do so. Long delays are reported in some areas.

Please report blocked drains and culverts to Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

More bad weather is predicted from midnight, with showers (which may become heavy) and winds reaching 100km/h. The highest gust of wind recorded this afternoon was 151 km/h at Snapper Rock, Albany. Western suburbs including New Lynn, Avondale and around the foothills of the Waitakere’s experienced rainfall rates of around 21mm within 10 mins this afternoon

About 150 homes are uninhabitable or without power at the Whenuapai base, and a further 70 homes in the wider area have been evacuated.

250 affected residents have already been taken to Whenuapai Air Force Base where they will be looked after, and Auckland Council welfare staff are assisting and providing support.

Auckland Council Civil Defence and the NZ Defence Force have set up a welfare facility at the Whenuapai Air Base.

If people believe their property is uninhabitable to call Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 if they need assistance.

Power
Vector advises that Henderson, Greenhithe and Riverhead are still without power.

Auckland Airport
Is open but an earlier lightning strike meant some flights were diverted.

Public Transport
Trains are operating as normal. Ferry services are continuing but the 5.30pm service to West Harbour is to be replaced by a bus.
Bus services are disrupted to Herald Island route 093 and Hobsonville Point routes 092 and 093. Route 130 is suspended. Some other bus services may be delayed.
Weather
Showers will return to Auckland from midnight tonight. We can expect:

Between midnight tonight and midnight tomorrow wind gusts with showers of up to 100km/h
Rainfall totals are not likely to exceed 20mm from these showers, however rainfall could be intense.
There is a low chance of thunder activity but not to the level experienced today.
Prevailing winds are expected to strengthen tomorrow afternoon; all winds will be from the North West.

Ends

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