Cyclone NZ

2023 - 1 - 8

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Cyclone Hale set to bring fresh downpours to eastern North Island (Stuff.co.nz)

A tropical cyclone is en route to New Zealand from the South Pacific and is set to drag more heavy rain over the east coast of the North Island early next ...

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Hale has formed in the Coral Sea & is the first named TC of the season. It is forecast to impact the North Island early this week. [Heavy rain lashed parts of the lower North Island](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300779674/thunderstorm-watch-lifted-for-north-island-but-downpours-still-possible-for-some?rm=a) on Saturday and more wet weather is expected to hit the eastern side of the island over the next two days. MetService meteorologist John Law said the heavy rain fall – which peaked at 47mm of rain in one hour on Saturday evening in the ranges behind Gisborne and 22mm of rain in one hour in Gisborne – was a “precursor of things to come”. Rain watches in place for the Coromandel and along the east coast of the North Island from Gisborne to Hawke's Bay will likely turn to warnings as the track of Cyclone Hale becomes more obvious, Farmer said. A tropical cyclone is en route to New Zealand from the South Pacific and is set to drag more heavy rain over the east coast of the North Island early next week.

Weather: Cyclone Hale, first tropical cyclone of 2023, expected to hit ... (New Zealand Herald)

More heavy rain set to drench parts of the country.

It’s likely a warning or watch will be issued for this next period of rain closer to the time. “We’re really sorry for the disruption this will cause to our customers’ travel plans but ensuring the safety of our customers and crew is critical. Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. There are no detours in place and NZTA asks commuters to drive to the conditions. MetService advises that rainfall amounts may exceed warning criteria in these areas, and the heavy rain watches will probably be upgraded to warnings closer to the time. Periods of heavy rain are also expected to fall in the ranges of Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua District until midnight tonight. The bad weather blighting our summer is set to continue next week with rain forecast for much of the country - including another deluge expected to hit the top of the North Island on Tuesday. MetService says heavy rain is expected to return to the Hawke’s Bay region on Tuesday. Cyclone Hale was located southwest of New Caledonia at midday today and is expected to approach the northeast of the North Island on Monday and Tuesday. “The main areas of concern are erosion and inundation at Brophy’s and Buffalo beaches in Whitianga, erosion and structure damage across beaches all the way down to Whangamatā,” said Towler. People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts from MetService as more Severe Weather Warnings and Watches will be issued for weather associated with Cyclone Hale closer to the time. The first tropical cyclone of 2023 in the South Pacific has been named this afternoon and is expected to hit New Zealand early this week, wreaking more havoc across the North Island.

Cyclone Hale to hit NZ tomorrow night, severity upgraded (1 News)

The recently upgraded tropical storm is currently located southwest of New Caledonia but is heading for the North Island.

The US Noordam arrived in Wellington on Saturday morning and was expected to set sail the same day, but on Saturday night there was heavy rain and gale force winds in the region. And the bad weather meant a cruise ship due to sail out of Wellington harbour yesterday, had to moor at the port overnight. The Interislander's Kaiarahi ferry has cancelled its 1.30pm and 6.30pm sailings out of Wellington on Sunday due to the weather.

Weather: Tropical cyclone Hale forms over Pacific Ocean, expected ... (Newshub)

Although, the category one storm is expected to clear in a couple of days.

Coromandel residents warned to prepare for 'hard hitting' Cyclone ... (RNZ)

It comes as bad weather continues for parts of the country, cancelling two ferry sailings out of Wellington today. Cyclone Hale is currently located southwest ...

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Hale has formed in the Coral Sea & is the first named TC of the season. It is forecast to impact the North Island early this week. The week of heavy rain and wind in various parts of the country is expected to make travelling difficult for motorists returning home from the Christmas break. The US Noordam arrived in Wellington on Saturday morning and was expected to set sail the same day, but on Saturday night there was heavy rain and gale force winds in the region. And the bad weather meant a cruise ship due to sail out of Wellington harbour yesterday, had to moor at the port overnight. Civil Defence is warning those in the Coromandel to prepare for Cyclone Hale, which is due to strike the country from tomorrow night.

First cyclone of 2023 forms. North Islanders to have more severe ... (WeatherWatch.co.nz)

The remnants of a tropical depression may feed into a new area of low pressure near NZ next week bringing a new period of wind and rain to the North Island.

We expect more high pressure to cross NZ for the rest of January (with a few afternoon downpours in the mix). Various reliable computer modelling continues to get more aligned, showing a period of rain and wind for the North Island early to mid next week. After this low next week WeatherWatch.co.nz is forecasting high pressure to return and a more settled, sunny, summer-like spell of weather for the country. Unlike the severe weather event the North Island has just had, this one should move through a little faster – within 48 hours and likely clearing NZ by Thursday. However next week this area of low pressure may merge into a storm near NZ (‘Storm’ criteria meaning gales all the way around the centre). The low may not really kick into an official tropical cyclone – but may well end up still pulling tropical energy down towards the NZ area to add more fuel to our weather.

Cyclone Hale set to bring downpours, wind to eastern North Island (Stuff.co.nz)

Cyclone Hale may slam into East Cape or sweep over Coromandel and Waikato. Either way, the heavy rain and wind are not over yet.

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Hale has formed in the Coral Sea & is the first named TC of the season. It is forecast to impact the North Island early this week. [Heavy rain lashed parts of the lower North Island](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300779674/thunderstorm-watch-lifted-for-north-island-but-downpours-still-possible-for-some?rm=a) on Saturday and more wet weather is expected to hit the eastern side of the island over the next two days. Rain watches in place for the Coromandel and along the east coast of the North Island from Gisborne to Hawke's Bay will likely turn to warnings as the track of Cyclone Hale becomes more obvious, Farmer said. The cyclone was moving east-southeast of New Caledonia on Sunday morning and was expected to hit Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cyclone Hale is set to drag more heavy rain and wild winds over much of the North Island as a subtropical low arrives from the South Pacific.