TC Gabrielle Strengthening and MetService Issues 62 Hour Severe Weather Watch

This is the post we did not want to make. MetService have taken the unusual step of issuing a 62 hour Weather Watch. TTC Gabrielle will likely be a very significant event for an already saturated and fragile Coromandel and the watches are more than likely to be upgraded to warnings as the cyclone gets closer. Early indications are for heavy rain to fall over 2 to 3 days from early Monday. We will also hear soon from Civil Defence who have extended the State of Emergency for Thames Coromandel, largely driven by this coming weather event. The full release from MetService follows.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle forecast to approach the country early next week.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is located in the Coral Sea and is expected to move southeast towards New Zealand. We expected to see impact from this cyclone from Sunday starting in the north and spreading to a wider region early next week.
Metservice is expecting significant wind, rain and swell from this cyclone.

This is a widespread, significant weather event, so it is important to keep up to date with the latest Metservice forecasts as watches are likely to be upgraded to Warnings, changes are made and more areas are added.

Heavy Rain Watch
Area: Northland and Auckland north of Whangaparaoa
Valid: 71 hours from 1:00am Sun 12 Feb to 12:00am Wed 15 Feb
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria during Sunday.
However, a more significant period is expected to be from Monday morning through to Tuesday morning, where we may see rainfall amounts of 150 -200mm in 24 hours.
Note, this will likely be upgraded to an Orange or possibly Red warning in the coming days.

Area: Coromandel Peninsula
Valid: 62 hours from 10:00am Sun 12 Feb to 12:00am Wed 15 Feb
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria during Sunday.
However, a more significant period is expected to be from midday Monday through to midday Tuesday, where we may see rainfall amounts of 200-300mm in 24 hours.
Note, this will likely be upgraded to an Orange or possibly Red warning in the coming days.

Strong Wind Watch
Area: Northland and Auckland north of Whangaparaoa
Valid: 66 hours from 6:00am Sun 12 Feb to 12:00am Wed 15 Feb
Forecast: East to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Note, this will likely be upgraded to an Orange or possibly Red warning in the coming days.

Valid: 42 hours from 6:00am Mon 13 Feb to 12:00am Wed 15 Feb
Forecast: Southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Note, this will likely be upgraded to an Orange or possibly Red warning in the coming days.