Cyclone Cook weather and roading update #8 – 12pm

Civil Defence has advised people in beach-front properties or those on estuaries and other low-lying areas that have flooded in the past during, for example, high tides combined with storm surges, should self-evacuate to friends or family on higher ground or to one of our emergency shelters.

Cyclone Cook has been reclassified as an extra-tropical low, but MetService will continue to refer to it as Cyclone Cook until it has passed.

It is expected to make landfall over the Bay of Plenty this evening and move southwards reaching Wellington or Wairarapa in the early hours of Friday morning. Damaging severe gales with gusts of 150 kmh or more are possible, affecting regions from Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty, down to Wellington. Coastal areas of the eastern Coromandel may see large waves of 5 metres or more, storm surges near the centre of Cyclone Cook, with coastal inundation and erosion possible.

People in properties in low-lying areas on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula or areas inundated in the past by king tide flooding, please self-evacuate immediately.
This specifically refers to beach-front properties, and properties on estuaries which have been flooded before in very high tides combined with storm surges.

Our Civil Defence are set up at and open as of 10am for a safe place to wait for further information:

• Coromandel St John Ambulance - 355 Tiki Road Coromandel
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• Whitianga Town Hall – 22 Monk Street Whitianga
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• Tairua Hall – 210 Main Road Tairua
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• Whangamata Town Hall - 326 Port Road Whangamata
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• Thames Civic Centre - 200 Mary Street Thames
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Here's the MetService outlook for the Coromandel:

Heavy rain is expected to ease tonight. In the 12 hours from 9am to 9pm today, 80 to 120mm is forecast to accumulate, in addition to what has already fallen. The heaviest falls are expected from around 3pm, when rainfall rates could reach 25 to 50mm or more with thunderstorms possible.

With the forecast heavy rainfall through until Friday falling on already saturated ground adverse impacts could include effects on the roading network, infrastructure, buildings and the possibility of communities becoming temporarily isolated.

The effects of Cyclone Cook could be significant as it unfolds today.

MetService says “People should be aware that this is a very significant event and is likely to produce widespread flooding, slips and wind damage, including to powerlines and may even lift roofs and bring down large trees. Driving conditions are likely to be hazardous, so people will need to take extra care on the roads, and even consider altering their Easter travel plans.”

To check for outages and report faults see www.powerco.co.nz/power-cuts.

Tides:

Thames
Thurs 13 April - 21:02 - 3.9 m
Fri 14 April - 08:35 - 2.8 m and 21:40 - 3.9 m
Sat 15 April - 09:53 - 2.8 m and 22:17 - 3.7 m

Whitianga
Thurs 13 April - 21:00 - 2.0 m
Fri 14 April - 09:16 - 2.0 m and 21:41 - 2.0 m
Sat 15 April - 09:56 - 2.0 m and 22:21 - 2.0 m

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

School Closures:

The Ministry of Education advised that all schools and early learning centres in the Coromandel close today.

Roads Closures:

"Weather and road conditions can change rapidly so check current conditions before you travel. If you do travel, allow extra time for your journey. Be prepared for challenging driving conditions, including debris on the road, and possible detours and road closures," says NZ Transport Agency Highways Manager, Niclas Johansson.

"Consider delaying your journey to and around areas forecast to be significantly impacted by the severe weather – in some areas Civil Defence is advising people not to travel at all," adds Mr Johansson.

"Storm conditions such as wind gusts can also affect high-side vehicles, motorcyclists, and cyclists. Drivers should watch their speeds, take care not to follow too closely, and be careful when taking corners," says Mr Johansson.

State Highway network:

• SH25 - Thames Coast Road – (Thames to Coromandel) closed. The road between Tararu and The 309 Road is closed (open to emergency services only). Please avoid this area. Northbound traffic is advised to use SH25a to Whitianga, continuing on to Coromandel. South traffic advised the same in reverse.
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Local roads:

• Colville Road closed between Papa Aroha and Amodeo Bay due to trees and slip material
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• Waiomu Valley Road Ford is impassable due to flooding
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• Victoria No.2 Ford is impassable due to flooding
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• We have been advised that a large pine tree that is at the very summit of the Port Charles Road is threatening to fall across the road. Contractors will assess asap.
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Members of the public who have been travelling on our roads advise us that there are slips and surface flooding, also we still have road works and traffic management across the Coromandel from last week’s downpour so again, please avoid travel if possible, expect delays and drive with caution.

River Levels:

All river levels are rising, to check current levels see the Waikato Regional Council website www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/services/regional-services/river-levels-and-rainfall.

Other:

• Unfortunately, due to the weather the Whangamata Lions Craft and Farmers Market has been cancelled.
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• Thames Coromandel District libraries: due to Cyclone Cook, Tairua Library will be closed all day today, and Mercury Bay Library will close at 11am. Both libraries will reopen on Tuesday, after the Easter break. Thames Library is still open as usual, and our Thursday Toddler Time and YLC sessions will still go ahead today as normal.
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• The Whitianga Ferry will stop running between 2PM and 6PM today. It is expected normal service will resume from 6PM, however we will keep you updated.
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Be prepared

Civil Defence would like to remind everyone to be prepared to potentially be isolated, without power, and you may need to make alternative arrangements if you are planning on travelling.

Now is also a good time to check your emergency survival kits and getaway kits.

• Have plenty of food and water for at least three days.
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• Battery powered lighting is the safest and easiest and you should check all batteries every three months. Do not use candles as they can tip over in earthquake aftershocks or in a gust of wind. Do not use kerosene lamps, which require a great deal of ventilation and are not designed for indoor use.
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• First aid kit and essential medicines.
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• Blankets or sleeping bags.
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• Pet supplies.
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• If possible, make sure your mobile phones are charged.
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Click here for a full checklist.

We also remind you that you may need to take care of yourself at home for up to a week, so check out everything you need at www.happens.nz.

How to keep up-to-date with what is happening

Check www.metservice.com/warnings/home or follow MetService on Facebook here to stay up-to-date on the weather.

For weather alerts and information on how to prepare for emergencies download the NZ Red Cross Hazard App.

The Red Cross Hazards app is available from:
App store for iOS devices
Google Play store for Android devices

Check our Council's home page for news updates and alerts, follow our Facebook page and subscribe to our email newsletters and Twitter feed @OurCoromandel.

If you don't have a smartphone or other mobile device, or don't use the internet, organise someone who does to call you and vice-versa. Think about elderly neighbours, family and friends who are perhaps on their own and may need support.

For State Highway roading updates (SH25 and SH25A on the Coromandel) NZTA offer real time traffic and travel information emailed directly to you letting you know if there's a significant hold up or need for caution on the State Highway you travel on. You can register your route here onthemove.govt.nz or for general updates follow NZTA Waikato on Facebook and see their website here.

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