Weather Alert: U.S. Mission New Zealand – Heavy Rain and Flooding
Location: Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty (including Rotorua), Gisborne (from Tolaga Bay northwards), Tasman (west of Mapua), Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Gisborne (south of Tolaga Bay), Hawke’s Bay.
Event: New Zealand’s MetService forecasts that a strong and extremely humid northeasterly flow precedes a tropical low that is forecast to approach New Zealand from the north on Wednesday, January 21. Heavy rain, downpours, and easterly gales are expected to affect many areas on Wednesday, January 21 and Thursday, January 22. Threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding, and slips are possible. Conditions will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.
The Met Service advises that red heavy rain warnings are in place in the following regions:
- Northland
- The Coromandel Peninsula
- Bay of Plenty (including Rotorua)
- Gisborne (from Tolaga Bay northwards).
Orange heavy rain warnings are in place in the following regions:
- Tasman (west of Mapua)
- Auckland and Great Barrier Island
- Gisborne (south of Tolaga Bay)
- Hawke’s Bay.
Actions to Take:
- Monitor local news and weather stations for updates.
- Monitor public weather alerts for your area on www.metservice.com .
- Monitor the Transport Authority for information on road closures and conditions www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions
- Gather needed supplies, including food, water, medications, etc.
- Do not enter floodwaters and avoid travel in effected areas.
- Act quickly to self-evacuate if you see rising water.
- Carry an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle.
- Be ready for power and communication outages.
For Assistance:
· U.S. Consulate General Auckland, Level 3, Citigroup Building, 23 Customs Street East, Auckland 1010
· Contact information: +64 09 303 2724, AucklandACS@state.gov
· State Department Consular Affairs: +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444
· Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts
· Follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
