Storm

Severe tropical cyclone, the fifth named storm to enter New Zealand waters this summer, is going to track very near to the North Island - but not near enough to cause problems predicts WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The cyclone, which today reached Category 4 status, is on a path that will see it track close to the North Island's east coast.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan talks about the tropical cyclone Atu, it's current status and just how close it will come to New Zealand.

Also, which beaches will be worse affected by Atu's swells?

View the video below...

"It's highly likely we haven't seen the end of the tropical storms and this years cyclone season may last longer than April" - WeatherWatch.co.nz

#YASI -- Cyclone Yasi has been downgraded further to a category 2 tropical cyclone, reduced from the category 5 it reached last night.

However WeatherWatch.co.nz says the winds are still destructive - and despite the wind easing the rain will not, with torrential rain continuing to fall across much of Queensland.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology says Yasi will continue to weaken as it moves in a west-southwesterly direction towards the Georgetown area during the morning.

As of 10am NZT winds were gusting to 155km/h, down from 205km/h at 8am and down from 295km/h at 3am.

Full details below...

WeatherWatch.co.nz reader "Nicola" asked this question tonight.  "Watching Sky News and reading your updates, there's often talk about the storm hitting at a particular time, yet obviously there's already some pretty stormy weather. When you weather people talk about the storm hitting, what part of the storm are you meaning?

Reports of slips, flooding and road closures are now coming in to WeatherWatch.co.nz.

To keep everything in easy to read blocks we've set up this page for people to post their eyewitness reports of Flooding, Slips and other Storm Damage.

Please post your comments below with as much detail as possible - and your location too.

Photos are now coming in of the damage left behind from Tropical Cyclone Wilma.

If you have Photos to upload - please Click Here

WeatherWatch.co.nz has received dozens of photos of Cyclone Wilma's flooding - they are displayed below.

We're still keen to see more storm photos (please use the link above to easily upload them) however from now on they will be stored in our special Storm Gallery and not below. 

View photos below...

Gale force winds continue to blow across New Zealand this evening between a large high moving in from the west and departing ex-tropical cyclone Wilma to the east.

Wilma is now joining forces with another low east of the lower South Island, helping push a very strong south westerly flow across both main islands.

Ex-tropical cyclone Wilma is now well clear of the North Island as she quickly heads out into the Pacific Ocean towards the Chatham Islands.

Wilma will now start a rapid deepening process that will help push a strong south westerly across the entire country and churn up large seas along the east coast.

As ex-cyclone Wilma moves away from New Zealand, officials are left counting the cost of the storm.

The worst of the rain has cleared Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula, although strong winds are expected to follow.

Sewage leak in Bay of Islands