A relatively calm morning across the North Island is the perfect time to get prepared and make a plan before severe weather brought by Cyclone Vaianu hits this evening.

Multiple rain and wind warnings are in place for later today, with Cyclone Vaianu moving southwards towards New Zealand as a significant sub-tropical system – what MetService has labelled a “multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event”.

Meteorologist Alanna Burrows said rain and wind will start to develop throughout the day in the North Island, becoming “more persistent” in the evening.

One rare red and 22 orange rain and wind alerts have been issued across the North Island as Cyclone Vaianu approaches New Zealand. Video / MetService 

“We’re going to start to see some of that rain developing through Saturday for the North Island and also a strengthening of easterly to southeasterly winds,” Burrows told the Herald. 

“That rain’s going to approach from the north and then gradually through the day it’s going to become more persistent in the evening and heavy for Northland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula, as well as starting to see quite widespread rain across most of the North Island all the way down to places like Taihape and also Hawke’s Bay. 

“And then that rain will become more widespread again through Sunday and heavier for everyone.” 

What to pack in an emergency. 

An orange strong wind warning is in place for Auckland from 9pm on Saturday until 4pm Sunday, with severe gales up to 130km/h expected in exposed places. There is a moderate chance (30-60%) of it being upgraded to a red warning. 

Orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings have also been issued for Northland today from 9pm and 11pm respectively, with a state of emergency already declared in the region. 

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On Sunday, when Cyclone Vaianu is expected to make landfall, all of the North Island is under either a heavy rain watch, strong wind warning or heavy rain warning, with the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island expected to be hit with damaging gusts of 140km/h causing flying items and falling trees. 

“The widespread impacts associated with this system, even far from the centre, we’re expecting some very dangerous winds and possibly life-threatening,” Burrows said. 

“The winds are changing direction because this system is circulating round going clockwise around this low centre. Originally you’ve got some severe gales coming from the east and then they’re going to turn and start to come from the west. It’s going to be hit by both sides as well as quite widespread torrential heavy rain too.” 

For those who haven’t already prepared their homes and made a plan for the severe weather, Burrows said this morning is “definitely” a good time to do so. 

“We would like people to act now to get prepared and be ready for the event coming. So they have been lucky with this fairly settled weather window beforehand. People can use the time wisely to be ready for when this comes through.” 

Burrows also warned of “very hazardous coastal conditions” during the event, with people advised to stay away from the coast and keep in touch with marine forecasts. 

“There’s some large coastal waves expected with this event. So we’ve got a building northeasterly swell coming to New Zealand and that should be peaking on Sunday for the northeastern coastlines of the North Island. 

“They could see swell waves reaching 6-8m. And then on top of that we’ve got waves created by the wind that’s associated [with the event]. 

“As that low moves along there’s a storm surge of possibly half a metre too. So very hazardous coastal conditions. We recommend staying away from the coast, but if you are a mariner or something, keep in touch with the marine forecast and the warnings.”