Gisborne District Council - Cyclone Pam Update Saturday

Hi all, Pam still on track to start impact top of the coast late Sunday and will track down to the City early Monday morning (see attached map). A warning will be issued shortly and it has 180 – 220mms in the ranges and 120mm elsewhere with falls up to 30mm/hour, winds will be 120k initial from the south east. Haven’t got official wave heights yet but they are significant.

The rain should only cause localized flooding problems and our main river systems should cope, although in recent events I have seen the Uawa river reach its dangerous levels with these amounts. It is more than likely we will see power disruption.

All the public preparedness given in other updates still apply.

GDC will be establishing an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in the CD office space today and will use the Council Chambers for external media reps and briefings. The EOC will probably be fully activated around 0500hrs on Monday morning.

This turned up as finishing email

{SWW Event 2015/7.1}
NOT TO BE BROADCAST AFTER 09:00pm Saturday 14-Mar-2015

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 9:13am 14-Mar-2015 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN: Bay Of Plenty Rotorua, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay {MEDIA} SEVERE SOUTHEAST GALES AND HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHEASTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND LATE SUNDAY AND MUCH OF MONDAY Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam, currently located near southern Vanuatu, is forecast to track southeastwards over the weekend and pass east of New Zealand during Mondayand Tuesday. There remains some uncertainty as to how close to the North Island the eventual cyclone track will be, however, it will likely be a significant event, with strong southeast winds and rain expected over much of the North Island late Sunday and Monday, along with extremely large seas about the east coast.
Around 200mm of rain is expected to accumulate in the ranges of Gisborne, northern Hawkes Bay and eastern Bay of Plenty, with lesser but still significant amounts near the coast. Rivers and streams in these areas will rise rapidly and localised surface flooding and slips are likely as well as hazardous driving conditions.
In addition, severe southeast gales are likely about Gisborne and Bay of Plenty for a time Monday, with gusts of 120 km/h in places but 160 km/h or possibly more about the eastern Bay of Plenty. Winds of this strength are likely to cause damage to trees and powerlines and could lift roofs and make for hazardous driving conditions.
This is a developing situation and people are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts as further areas may be added to this Warning.
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO http://metservice.com MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS.
======================
HEAVY RAIN WARNING
====================== AREA/S AFFECTED: GISBORNE, NORTHERN HAWKES BAY AND THE RANGES OF EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
FORECAST:
A period of heavy rain is expected from Sunday evening until Monday evening, especially about the ranges. In the 24 hours from 9pm Sunday until 9pm Monday, expect 180 to 220mm about the ranges, with 120 to 140mm near the coast. Peak intensities of 30mm/hr.
=======================
STRONG WIND WARNING
======================= AREA/S AFFECTED: BAY OF PLENTY ESPECIALLY EAST OF EDGECUMBE, AND GISBORNE
FORECAST:
Southeasterlies are expected to rise to severe gale for a time during Monday. Between 1am and 7pm Monday expect severe southeast gales, with gusts of 120 km/h likely but 160 km/h or possibly more about the eastern Bay of Plenty.

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