Cyclone Incoming: North Island bracing for impact yet again

MetService is monitoring a category three tropical cyclone that’s hurtling towards New Zealand.

Cyclone Vaianu is working its way over from the west of Fiji, where it has sparked multiple weather warnings including for flash flooding. Wind gusts have reached upwards of 150km/h as well.

The brunt of the weather will be contained to the North Island, especially on the east coast, but the full impact will be heavily dependent on the path that Vaianu takes, as it comes down from the tropics.

MetService Meteorologist John Law says, “The exact path and intensity of the storm as it heads towards us in New Zealand is yet to be determined, however it does look like we will be seeing some impacts from this system during the weekend.”

The Far North district is gearing up for another deluge from the cyclone.

The council has set up ‘Manaaki Recovery Hubs’, aimed to provide multi-agency support through a community and marae-based approach.

The locations are as follows:

Whirinaki (venue tbc) - Thursday 9 April, 9am to 12pm

Waimamaku, Memorial Hall – Thursday 9 April, 1pm to 4pm

Panguru, Waipuna Marae - Friday 10 April, 9am to 12pm

Pawarenga, Morehu Marae – Friday 10 April, 1pm to 4pm

Kaitāia, Te Ahu – Saturday 11 April, 9am to 12pm

Awanui, Waimanoni Marae - Saturday 11 April, 1pm to 4pm.

There are Severe Weather Warnings and watches currently in place for a separate weather system moving across the country today.

MetService says these warnings will be replaced with fresh ones in the coming days.