UPDATE: Cyclone Cook weather and roading update #6 - 11pm

UPDATE: Just after the original version of this was sent a few minutes ago, NZTA updated the status of SH25 Thames Coast Road to closed until further notice.

Bursts of heavy rain are expected to continue overnight and through tomorrow as Cyclone Cook approaches and is projected to make landfall over the Coromandel or western Bay of Plenty Thursday afternoon.

It’s expected to reach Wellington early Friday morning and damaging severe gales with gusts of 150kmh or more are possible, MetService says.

Eastern coastal areas of the Coromandel may see large waves of 5 metres or more, which could cause coastal inundation, especially in low-lying areas near rivers and streams that are flood-prone at high tides when there is heavy rain.

MetService says the precise track of the cyclone track may change as the storm approaches.

In the 24 hours from 8pm Wednesday to 8pm Thursday, 120 to 160mm is forecast to accumulate in the Coromandel, MetService says, in addition to what has already fallen. Maximum rainfall rates 30 to 40mm with thunderstorms are possible.

Our Mayor Sandra Goudie declared a civil defence emergency for Thames-Coromandel District.

Civil Defence is advising against travel to the Coromandel given the severity of the storm.

We are seriously advising people to avoid visiting the Coromandel until at least Saturday and if people do decide to make the journey they must be prepared to be turned back, be isolated and have their journeys severely disrupted.

No local roads are currently reported closed.

SH25 - Thames Coast Road - has been closed again at Ruamahunga Bay until further notice due to the slip there.

For all State Highway updates see www.nzta.govt.nz and follow them on Facebook.

For tide times see the MetService Website - Tide time - Coromandel Peninsula

The Ministry of Education says that all schools and early learning centres in the Coromandel will be closed tomorrow.

Thames Valley Civil Defence has welfare teams on standby in Whitianga, Whangamata, Tairua, Pauanui, Coromandel and Thames, should they be needed.

Cyclone Cook has been reclassified as an extra-tropical low but MetService will continue to refer to it as Cyclone Cook until there are no longer any impacts expected on New Zealand, given the significance of the system.

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