Cyclone Vaianu hits NZ

Cyclone Vaianu made landfall on New Zealand’s North Island on Sunday, April 12, bringing destructive winds, flooding, power cuts and evacuations. (reuters.com) The cyclone crossed the coast near the Maketu Peninsula with winds above 130 kilometers an hour, according to Reuters, citing MetService. MetService had warned on April 10 that Vaianu would move south across the North Island on Sunday with damaging winds, heavy rain and possible coastal inundation. (reuters.com, metservice.com) Before landfall, New Zealand officials issued rare red wind warnings for Coromandel and Great Barrier Island, and Radio New Zealand reported gusts of 140 kilometers an hour were possible in Coromandel. The National Emergency Management Agency urged residents on April 8 to clear drains, secure loose items and avoid floodwaters. (rnz.co.nz, civildefence.govt.nz) Several regions went under emergency declarations as the storm moved in, and Reuters reported that hundreds of people were evacuated from exposed or flood-prone areas. Radio New Zealand said early Sunday that evacuations were under way in Kerikeri and that Northland was already under a state of emergency. (reuters.com, rnz.co.nz, civildefence.govt.nz) The storm disrupted transport well beyond flooded streets. Auckland Transport said on April 11 that Aucklanders should delay unnecessary travel on Sunday, warned the Auckland Harbour Bridge could face extended closures from midday to late evening, and suspended multiple ferry and Waiheke bus services. (at.govt.nz) Air travel was also hit as regional flying became unsafe. Reuters reported Air New Zealand canceled more than 90 turboprop flights, mainly at regional North Island airports, while domestic jet and international services continued with delays. (reuters.com) Vaianu began as a severe tropical cyclone near Fiji before tracking south into cooler waters toward New Zealand. MetService listed it as a Category 3 system on April 9, and Radio New Zealand reported on April 7 that forecasters already saw a growing risk of life-threatening winds in New Zealand. (metservice.com, rnz.co.nz) By Sunday, forecasters were measuring the kind of impacts that turn warnings into emergencies: Reuters said MetService recorded 24-hour rainfall above 100 millimeters in Whangārei and waves higher than six meters in some areas. Officials said the system was expected to move away later on Sunday, but transport and cleanup disruptions were likely to continue after the center passed. (reuters.com, weatherwatch.co.nz)