Gisborne District Council - Cyclone Pam Update

Morning all forecast this morning differs in that it start at the top of Eastcape 3 hrs earlier and the wind is now increased to 130-150 which is pretty significant and will cause damage especially in areas exposed to the southeast - south. Preparations have been going well the coasties have been very active getting their people ready. Luckily there was a big hui at Waipiro Bay yesterday with reps form all over the coast so James Palmer our Waiapu Area Co-ordinator was able to spend some time briefing them. Today Civil Defence will be in phone conferences with the National Controller and Minister and later will be having a final planning meeting with the Emergency Services and key utilities.

It has been really good to see people stocking up but as always leaving things to the last minute is not the best solution.

I also want to strongly advise that this is not another Bola, it may be stronger but the impacts will be vastly different. Bola hung around for 3 days and we had a metre of rain up the coast, this thing will be all over in 24 hours and there is only 200mm's rain forecast. This means we are not going to get the main rivers overflowing and covering ever thing in silt. SO it may be more intense but the impacts vastly different.

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HEAVY RAIN WARNING
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GISBORNE AND THE RANGES OF EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
FORECAST:
A period of heavy rain is expected from Sunday evening until Monday evening. In the 27 hours from 6pm Sunday until 9pm Monday, expect 120 to 140mm to accumulate, but 180 to 220mm about the ranges and in places north of Gisborne City. Peak intensities 30mm/hr.
HAWKES BAY
FORECAST:
A period of heavy rain is expected from Sunday evening until Monday evening, especially about the ranges and places north of Napier. In the 24 hours from 9pm Sundayuntil 9pm Monday; north of Napier, expect 180 to 200mm to accumulate about the ranges with 100 to 140mm near the coast, and south of Napier, expect 100 to 140mm to accumulate about the ranges and coastal hills. Peak intensities 25mm/hr about the northern ranges.
80 to 100mm to accumulate. Peak intensities 20mm/hr.
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STRONG WIND WARNING
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AREA/S AFFECTED: GISBORNE AND THE WAIROA DISTRICT OF HAWKES BAY
FORECAST:
Southeast winds are expected to rise to gale tonight, then to severe gale for a time during Monday. Between 1am and 11pm Monday expect severe southeast gales gradually turning southerly, with gusts of 130 km/h likely but 150 km/h or possibly more north of Gisborne City.

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