Hurricane force winds have roared through some parts of the country this morning with severe gales in the lower North Island causing the most amount of problems.
The low tightened more than models suggested yesterday – that has spared northern regions from the full fury but has instead pushed more wind into central areas.
WeatherWatch.co.nz says reports of significant damage to trees, roofs and powerlines are coming in from South Taranaki and Wanganui especially.
Reports from Nelson to WeatherWatch.co.nz are also commenting on snow, which fell overnight on the ranges just 48 hours since summer officially ended.
The centre of the low is now tracking over the Tararua Ranges / Dannevirke area and towards southern Hawkes Bay. Within the next few hours it will then move off the east coast and out over the Pacific.
With the centre of the low over land at the moment it’s possible it may start weakening for a few hours – however once the low crosses over into the Pacific Ocean, just east of Hawkes Bay, it is likely to strengthen again – firing in a very strong southerly flow across the North Island.
This strengthening wind flow – which will be a mixture of sou’westers, southerlies and south easterlies – should then extend across much of New Zealand this afternoon.
We want to hear your damage reports – send them in to us by posting comments below!
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Melissa on 3/03/2012 2:51am
It was amazing to see all my barometer pressure’s drop so quickly overnight, by all, I mean all 17 of them ( not too many barometer’s for a weather nut is it? )
Anyway started to get bumpy here about 3-4am in Kapiti, power off and on around the district.
Metservice site said paraparaumu had a gust of 117 km/h at 5.36 am, then it jammed up for a while. The gusts were huge, the rain was coming it sideways. Quite a few trees down,and surface flooding, wasn’t a nice drive to work at 7am!
There seemed to be a lull in the weather about 9-10am then it seemed to have another swipe at us with another quick dose of huge gusts and sideways rain. Wonder if the lull was like the eye on the storm?. Then eased off about 1pm, still the odd gust here now and odd shower, even some sun.
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Kay on 3/03/2012 1:01am
Storm arrived about an hour ago, gusty strong winds, steady rain, 12c, fire is cranked up. Tame compared with whats happening in midwest America.
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Guest on 3/03/2012 12:30am
Hi, I’m up on Bluff Hill in Napier. We had a lovely morning up until around 10.30 when the clouds had rolled in and the wind picked up. We now have intermitant showers and strong winds. Certainly strange weather today.
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Ian on 2/03/2012 11:42pm
My weather station in Pukekohe just recorded a 171km wind gust. But this cant be right can it? It didnt feel like it was that strong.
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WW Forecast Team on 3/03/2012 12:27am
Hi Ian,
It does sound a bit off the mark to us. Some winds could have topped 100kph but mainly in the 60-80 km/ph range of late.
Cheers
WW
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VIX on 2/03/2012 10:40pm
we face Somes Island up on the hills in Bellevue Estate and it feels like the house is going to take off.
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Stephen on 2/03/2012 9:41pm
Overnight it was relatively calm by our standards, 20mm rain. We are now experiencing some strong gusty south westerly winds with showers.
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phil smith on 2/03/2012 9:37pm
Hi Phil, Well what a funny weather bomb. woke up at 4,00am went and had a look at the barometre and it showed 968hpa with strong nor-east winds, then woke at 5.30 and the wind had dropped right away, woke again at 9.15 with gale southerlies and heavy rain. Currantly its 10.35 , 971hpa, 10.9dec and still blowing a southerly ni fact severe winds right now .cheers Phil Smith Levin
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Guest on 2/03/2012 9:28pm
Only light winds here now, but what a very windy night. Winds would have been in excess of 100km/h here at times. Seems to have passed quickly but the there is small plant debris everywhere and the swells are huge but choppy at Fitzroy.
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Guest on 2/03/2012 9:26pm
Died down a bit for the past hour but now very strong wind gusts in Coatesville but sunny as well.
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