Winter’s final day is set to bring strong winds to parts of the country, with MetService issuing a string of weather warnings and watches.
A series of fronts embedded in a strong west to southwest flow was forecast over the next few days, bringing severe gales to exposed places.
An orange-level strong wind warning has been issued for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula for Sunday afternoon, with several southwesterly gales forecast to gust up to 120km/h in exposed areas.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) warned the Auckland Harbour Bridge was likely to close intermittently during strong wind gusts on Sunday.
MetService said these conditions could bring down trees and power lines and may make driving conditions difficult for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Strong wind watches were also issued for Northland and Waikato on Sunday, for Hawkes Bay south of Hastings and the Tararua District, the Bay of Plenty west of Kawarau, and Southland, Stewart Island and Dunedin on Monday.
Several road snowfall warnings have also been issued, with rain expected to turn to snow on the Crown Range Road and Lindis Pass Saturday afternoon.
More than 2700 lightning strikes had been also detected since midnight, with the majority taking place offshore.
Short closures likely for Auckland Harbour Bridge
The Auckland Harbour Bridge was likely to close for brief periods today during strong wind gusts, the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said.
Northwesterly winds were likely to hit amber thresholds in the morning and strengthen to red by late morning, possibly triggering a red alert.
“To ensure safety, speed limits on the bridge may be reduced, lanes on the bridge may close, or short periods of full closures may be required,” an NZTA spokesperson said.
“Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway.
“With strong winds predicted, drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.”
Auckland Transport advised travelers that buses that cross the Harbour Bridge may be “delayed, cancelled, or detoured intermittently throughout the day”.
“Customers travelling on the NX1, NX2, MEX, 866, 802, 82, 95B, 95C, 939, 923, 97R, 97B, 966, 931, or 933, can check the AT Mobile app for delays or cancellations to buses and the NZTA highway conditions page to see if the bridge is open or closed,” a spokesperson said.
Ferry users were also advised to check before travelling and consider alternative options.
Auckland Emergency Management said the “very windy weather” forecast could cause damage and disruption, particularly when the ground was wet and trees became unstable.
It urged residents to bring in or tie down loose items, clear branches or debris that could became dangerous in strong winds, and to check the household emergency plan and supplies including torches and spare batteries.
Auckland’s Cornwall Park and its facilities would be closed to the public from 1pm on Sunday “until further notice”, it said in a post online.
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Orange Strong Wind Warning
Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula – 9 hours from 3pm to midnight Sunday
Strong Wind Watch
Northland – 7 hours from 1pm to 9pm Sunday
Waikato – 7 hours from 3pm to 10pm Sunday
Bay of Plenty west of Kawarau – 8 hours from 4pm to midnight Sunday
Waitomo west of Te Kuiti and Taranaki – 6 hours from 3pm to 9pm Sunday
Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings and the Tararua District – 10 hours from 12pm to 10pm Monday
Dunedin, Clutha, Southland south of Gore, and Stewart Island – 7 hours from 11am to 6pm Monday
Road Snowfall Warning
Crown Range Road – 25 hours from 8pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday
Lewis Pass (SH7) – 4 hours from 2pm to 6pm Sunday
Lindis Pass (SH8) – 23 hours from 10pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday
Milford Road (SH94) – 43 hours from 8pm Saturday to 3pm Monday
Porters pass (SH73) – 4 hours from 11am to 3pm Sunday