A few days of wet and wild weather

It’s been a wet and windy few days in Auckland with the extensive rainfall and wind the region has received. With the long weekend ahead of us, we’re sharing some tips on what’s been impacted, especially at our northern regional parks.  

Mayor Wayne Brown expressed his thanks to the community for following advice and to all those who provided support over the last few days.  

“Our infrastructure fared better this time around, showing that the resilience work we’ve been doing is beginning to pay off. While the region held up well overall, the weather still left its mark.  

“A big thank you to all those who followed Auckland Emergency Management direction and took measures to look after each other over the last couple days.” 

Impacts of the weather 

Auckland Emergency Management General Manager Adam Maggs says that the community should feel proud for preparing early, sharing key information and looking out for one another over the past few days. 

“A big shout out to the communities across Auckland who were prepared, shared our safety messages and came together where needed to support each other,” says Adam. 

“Thankfully the impacts we have seen are relatively light compared to our neighbours in Northland and the Coromandel, and in the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti – we’ll be thinking of them all and offering our support as their clean-up begins.”  

Since early Wednesday morning, around 40-60mm of rain fell in the far west and south of the Auckland region, with 80-120mm around central and eastern parts.  

Some isolated spots, including Rodney’s northeast coast and eastern parts of Hūnua, saw around 150mm. Aotea Great Barrier Island was the most impacted, with a significant 250mm of rain received from early Wednesday morning. 

“We’ll continue to actively support the community on Aotea Great Barrier Island as the full impact is assessed and the clean-up begins. We know the community on the island are well-prepared and resilient, and we remain focused on ensuring that they are getting the support and information that they need from us,” says Adam. 

Across Auckland, we saw some surface flooding, road damage and slips occurring mainly in the northeast of the region.   

Auckland Council received 221 stormwater-related requests for service during the weather event, and 398 requests for service related to trees (on public and private land). 

Wind watch in place for Saturday 

As we head towards the long weekend, MetService has this morning issued a Strong Wind Watch for Auckland, effective from midday until 5pm on Saturday 24 January. 

“While much of this week’s nasty weather appears to be behind us, this latest warning is a good reminder for people to always stay vigilant and prepared,” says Adam. 

“If you’re at home for the weekend or heading away, now is a good time to bring inside or tie down anything that can be broken or picked up by strong winds, such as outdoor furniture, and to remove any debris or loose items from around your property.” 

Rubbish collection update 

Due to road closures in some parts of the region, including Mahurangi and Kaipara Flats, Waiheke and Aotea Great Barrier, our rubbish trucks currently can’t complete all collections.  

We appreciate your patience as some collections are delayed and we’ll provide updates as soon as we can safely access these areas again. 

Wellbeing support 

For some people, anniversaries of major events like the 2023 severe weather can also bring up strong memories and feelings, especially when heavy rain is expected.  

“We are acutely aware that this weekend marks three years of the devastating weather events across our region as we headed into Auckland Anniversary weekend, and our thoughts remain with those communities impacted by those events,” says Adam. 

Our Whānau Support Guide brings together wellbeing contacts, information and practical steps to support you and your whānau during challenging times like this. 

Tips for the long weekend 

Remember to check Safeswim (via the website or download the app) for the latest information on water quality and swimming conditions before heading for a swim at any of Auckland’s beaches.