WeatherWatch.co.nz says coastal flooding across Auckland and the greater Auckland region may be worse for some areas tonight as winds turn more northerly and strengthen.

The weather news authority says weather stations are showing nor’easterlies as being the main wind direction across much of the the upper North Island tonight and in the past few hours the winds have strengthened further and tilted even more to the north.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says four things are working against vulnerable coastal areas in Auckland… 

• 1 – There is a king tide at the moment – a higher than normal tide
   
• 2 – Gale force winds are strengthening on the harbours – the continuous strong winds blow more waters into harbours, bays and inlets. 
   
• 3 – Winds are turning more northerly.  This will push more water into regions that face the north (with land to the south), such as Maraetai, Herald Island, Nor’Western Motorway at Waterview and the eastern waterfront from the CBD to St Heliers.  It will also help feed more water in to the Firth of Thames which could cause serious coastal flooding along the Miranda coast.
   
• 4 – The centre of the low (which is still slowly deepening) will carry with it a Storm Surge.  A Storm Surge is a dome of raised water underneath the centre of a deep low that can further add to flooding.  In most major tropical storms it’s often the storm surge that creates the biggest damage.  While we don’t anticipate a serious storm surge with this sub-tropical low we do expect it to add more height to the high tide. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz says that the slight wind direction change, which may not be noticeable by many, could mean different places are affected by sea flood waters tonight than this morning.

Motorists are advised to drive with extreme caution tonight on coastal roads and watch for sudden deep flooding, driftwood and other debris.

Tomorrow a strong south west flow will remove the threat of more serious coastal flooding in the greater Auckland region.

Follow us on:

Just click here to “Like” WeatherWatch.co.nz.