Skywatch Friday: Weather Bomb

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10789384


Looks like it is a weekend of indoor sitting at the computer for me.

Civil defence authorities are warning North Islanders to brace themselves for a storm which could wreak havoc overnight.

Power outages, airport closures and wave surges could be expected when gale-force winds and heavy rain start showing their teeth around midnight, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said in a statement.

"The only good thing about the forecasted front is that it is expected to pass through quickly. But we can expect it to pack a punch,'' said the ministry's civil defence director John Hamilton.

People in the whole of the North Island - especially the central and southern parts - were advised to plan for power outages, affected water supplies and broken windows.

Wind damage and wave surges were also likely to affect roads.

Interislander ferry sailings scheduled for after 6.25pm today have been cancelled as a result of the anticipated storm.

Acting general manager Ross Allen said that, weather permitting, they would resume sailings on Sunday morning.

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said winds were now predicted to be stronger than initially forecast for much of the country, with gusts of up to 150km/h predicted for many rural and coastal areas.

"We had initially thought the wind and rain would be about equal. Now with the wind forecast picking up it looks as though it'll be this jetstream that will just zip past very quickly and some places may only end up with showers.''

The fast and furious storm should last less than 24 hours across the country, with some places in the clear after just six hours of rough weather.

Preparations are also being made in case the severe weather stirs things up around the wreck of the stricken cargo ship Rena off Tauranga.

Winds gusting up to 50 knots and swells of over 5m are forecast for tomorrow.

Salvage company Svitzer has brought the barge Smit Borneo and other support vessels into port as a precaution.





http://skyley.blogspot.com/