Police are urging motorists across the North Island to avoid nonessential travel as winds upto 150 km/h and rain triggered by Cyclone Dovi wreak havoc across the region.
Slips and flooding have caused road closures, and much of Northland, Auckland, Taranaki and Waikato is out of power due to powerlines downed by trees.
MetService has issued 17 weather warnings and watches across the North Island and 11 for the northern part of the South Island, while Fire and Emergency New Zealand say they've attended 140 weather related calls.
SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) February 12, 2022
Strong Wind Warning Orange issued for Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Great Barrier Island, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Taranaki, Tararua, Waikato, Wairarapa, Waitomo, Wellington. More details here:https://t.co/IZB3LBiTRz
Trees have fallen onto roads and roofs, while houses have been flooded, at 9:30 am the national transport agency closed the Auckland harbour bridge on account of high winds.
Auckland lines company Vector says it's likely some households could be without power for days if weather progresses as bad as predicted.
[ Weather warnings for your regionOpens in new window ]
SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) February 12, 2022
Cyclone Dovi is crossing the motu and warnings are in place for much of Aotearoa. Stay inside, don’t drive unless absolutely necessary. Follow your local CDEM group, @MetService and @NZTA
(pix: slip SH2 at Melling, Kerikeri, SH1 at Plimmerton, Taranaki) pic.twitter.com/Ce9bcUnj86
