Historical emergencies

The situation on the Chatham Islands is generally improving with wild weather starting to ease as forecast. Ex-tropical cyclone Pam continues to move away to the south east of the Chatham Islands, and the MetService has now lifted its weather advisory for the Islands. However, winds and seas remain high. Combined waves of around 7 to 8 metres are still possible about southern coasts until late this afternoon and wave heights will only ease gradually this evening and during Friday. There is major damage to wharves at Kaingaroa and at Flower Pot (Pitt Island). Other damage on the Islands from Cycle Pam appears to be minor. Approximately 50 people south of Waitangi are without power for 2-3 days. The last remaining wildfire on the Islands remains contained. The declared state of local emergency will be reassessed this afternoon, with a view to terminating if no longer required.

A state of local emergency is still in place in the Chatham Islands. Cyclone Pam remains an intense extra-tropical low, but will gradually move southeast away from the Islands over the next 48 hours. The National Crisis Management Centre stood down at 8pm on Tuesday 17 March, however the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is continuing to monitor the situation and will coordinate assistance.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. ISSUED BY MetService AT 8:57pm 17-Dec-2014 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN: Bay Of Plenty Rotorua, Gisborne, Nelson, Coromandel Peninsula HEAVY RAIN IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND EASING OVERNIGHT, BUT FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHWEST NELSON UNTIL EARLY THURSDAY MORNING

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. ISSUED BY MetService AT 6:14 pm 17-Dec-2014 Heavy rain for the northeast of the North Island and also northwest Nelson A moist northeasterly flow over the North Island today is bringing a period of heavy rain to the northeast of the North Island. The heaviest falls are expected about the Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne, where a further 70 to 110mm could accumulate in a 6 to 9 hour period this evening and tonight, (this is on top of the rain which has already fallen during the day). Meanwhile, periods of heavy rain are expected to continue in northwest Nelson through to Thursday morning where a further 80mm could accumulate about the ranges. Heavy rain about the Coromandel Peninsula should ease early this evening, but another 20 to 40mm could accumulate there. People are advised that streams and rivers are likely to rise rapidly, and heavy rain could cause surface flooding, slips and make driving hazardous. HEAVY RAIN WARNING AREA/S AFFECTED Coromandel Peninsula FORECAST Heavy rain is expected to ease early this evening, but south of Whangamata another 20 to 40mm could accumulate between 6pm and 8pm. Peak intensities of around 20mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms. AREA/S AFFECTED Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau FORECAST Heavy rain is expected to ease this evening. In the 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm Wednesday, expect a further 40 to 80mm to accumulate on top of what has alreday fallen. Peak intensities of around 25mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms. AREA/S AFFECTED Remainder of Bay of Plenty (from Kawerau eastwards) and also Gisborne north of Ruatoria FORECAST Further heavy rain is expected this evening, then ease early Thursday morning. In the 8 hours from 6pm Wednesday to 2am Thursday, expect another 70 to 110mm to accumulate on top of what has already fallen. Peak intensities of around 25-30mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. ISSUED BY MetService AT 6:14 pm 17-Dec-2014 Heavy rain for the northeast of the North Island and also northwest Nelson A moist northeasterly flow over the North Island today is bringing a period of heavy rain to the northeast of the North Island. The heaviest falls are expected about the Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne, where a further 70 to 110mm could accumulate in a 6 to 9 hour period this evening and tonight, (this is on top of the rain which has already fallen during the day). Meanwhile, periods of heavy rain are expected to continue in northwest Nelson through to Thursday morning where a further 80mm could accumulate about the ranges. Heavy rain about the Coromandel Peninsula should ease early this evening, but another 20 to 40mm could accumulate there. People are advised that streams and rivers are likely to rise rapidly, and heavy rain could cause surface flooding, slips and make driving hazardous. HEAVY RAIN WARNING AREA/S AFFECTED Coromandel Peninsula FORECAST Heavy rain is expected to ease early this evening, but south of Whangamata another 20 to 40mm could accumulate between 6pm and 8pm. Peak intensities of around 20mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms. AREA/S AFFECTED Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau FORECAST Heavy rain is expected to ease this evening. In the 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm Wednesday, expect a further 40 to 80mm to accumulate on top of what has alreday fallen. Peak intensities of around 25mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms. AREA/S AFFECTED Remainder of Bay of Plenty (from Kawerau eastwards) and also Gisborne north of Ruatoria FORECAST Further heavy rain is expected this evening, then ease early Thursday morning. In the 8 hours from 6pm Wednesday to 2am Thursday, expect another 70 to 110mm to accumulate on top of what has already fallen. Peak intensities of around 25-30mm per hour are possible with thunderstorms.

NOT TO BE BROADCAST AFTER 09:00pm Wednesday 17-Dec-2014

MetService have advised that thunderstorms may form in Auckland. The highest risk period is between 3pm - 7pm today, with stronger thunderstorms more likely in southern parts of the region. Where thunderstorms form, surface flooding is likely and localised flooding of streams.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING A front preceded by strong northeasterlies moves south over the North Island today (Wednesday 17 December), bringing a period of heavy rain to the northeast of the North Island. The heaviest falls are expected about the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. ISSUED BY MetService AT 9:25 pm 18-Oct-2014 Period of heavy rain for the eastern Bay of Plenty A front over northern New Zealand is expected to move slowly eastwards across the North Island overnight Saturday and during Sunday morning and become slow moving over East Cape Sunday afternoon. A moist northwest flow ahead of this front is expected to bring a period of heavy rain to the eastern Bay of Plenty. 80 to 100mm of rain could accumulate in the eastern Bay of Plenty in an 18 hour period from midnight Saturday. The frontal rainband should weaken Sunday evening. People are advised that this rain could make rivers and stream rise quickly, cause slips and surface flooding and make driving hazardous. HEAVY RAIN WARNING AREA/S AFFECTED Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane FORECAST Rain is expected to become heavy overnight Saturday. In the 18 hours from midnight Saturday to 6pm Sunday, 80 to 100mm of rain is likely. Heaviest rain rates could reach 15 to 20mm per hour at times. NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 9:00 am Sunday 19-Oct-2014

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. ISSUED BY MetService AT 7:36 pm 19-Oct-2014 Heavy rain about the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty has eased and the warning for this area is lifted The rain has eased over the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and the warning for this area is lifted. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: Bay of Plenty ranges east of Whakatane