Eek! Here comes the weather bomb!

[littleheaven]

Auckland doesn't get a lot of hurricanes (or tropical cyclones as they are called in these parts).  Our season normally runs from around the end of November to the end of April, and we only generally get one every 5 years or so.

So colour me surprised that there's a sub-tropical category 2/3 storm bearing down on us right now.  The eye is going to pass almost right over the top of my house!  The Civil Defence is warning everyone to have their survival kits ready, keep the curtains drawn to cut down on flying glass from imploding windows, and open leeward windows to reduce the risk of the roof flying off.  That's comforting.  I'm so glad that we're on a hill, and the tidal stream just a few hundred feet along the road is significantly lower than our house.

Details can be found at this weather blog: http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/weather-bomb-developing#comments

It could potentially be the lowest pressure ever recorded over the city.  I'm a little bit scared.  We're not used to this kind of sh*t!

Comments

[obsessive24.livejournal.com]

I just read the Civil Defence notice. It's pretty daunting waiting for it to move in. I'm definitely not leaving the house this weekend!

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to still be able to get out after lunch for some mall-walking. The thought of being stuck inside all day with a fractious toddler scares me more than the weather! The eye's forming at the moment, according to weatherwatch, and now they're predicting the pressure to drop as low as 959hPa, which is the same as the atlantic hurricanes.

*hoards batteries and candles*

[obsessive24.livejournal.com]

Right now we're just getting some dribbly rain. Steady, but certainly not anything fierce. I expect the storm is still moving in though. What about you?

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

It's raining pretty hard here, and the wind is pretty noisy. The front of our place is on poles, so it shakes a little in high winds, and it's already done so a couple of times. Apparently we're safe from the storm surge here, but I'm a little concerned about the bush beside the house. Last time we had a weather bomb two huge trees fell over behind the neighbour, and had they fallen forwards rather than sideways, they would have hit his house.

How high up are you?

[obsessive24.livejournal.com]

I guess it's hitting the Shore harder than the city, then. Hoping it won't get much worse! *hugs*

I'm on the first floor. We're sheltered from all sides, though I'm looking out at trees and they're barely moving, so there really is no wind, not just that we're not feeling it.

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

That's good, sounds like you're in a safe spot! Apparently at the airport there's just a light breeze. Bizarre how different it can be just a few kms away. We've just had some *really* heavy rain and the trees on the hill behind us are getting a good jostling. I think our street, being south-west facing, is a bit exposed, and we're right at the end of the cul-de-sac, in the centre. It's a bit of a wind-tunnel. All the rubbish and crap in the street always blows into our garden, even though we're the highest house.

[chrisleeoctaves.livejournal.com]

Keep safe!!!!

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hun!

[macgyvergal.livejournal.com]

We really need to get rachelcaine after those Weather Wardens. :)

Be safe!

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

She's already sent a few over, apparently. Just waiting for them to arrive. Could use some sexay Djinn about now. Rain and wind are really picking up, and it's only just started.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. I'm just now getting caught up. What happened? Everyone safe? Not too much damage I hope.

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that bad in the immediate area around my house, thank goodness. We only lost 2 small trees. The swimming beaches around here were incredible, though. They're on the sheltered East side of the country (Auckland is very thin so you can drive to either side) and in a harbour ringed by islands, and the surf was HUGE! There were 4 deaths. 1 crazy man who went out in a canoe and drowned, two guys in a wrecked fishing trawler and a man whose house burned down after the candle he was using in a power cut set the place alight.

We're in the middle of another storm right now - this one is rainy more than windy. The whole top of the North Island has been cut off by slips, and loads of people can't get to work due to flooding. In my area the police have said to stay at home if at all possible because so many roads are being closed for repair. We're expecting more rain and thunder today, but in my street we have power, hot water, and no flooding, so we're better off than a lot of people!