Storm at sea. Photo: Shutterstock The US Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand and the Cook Islands has issued an Extreme Weather Alert for Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.
According to a statement released today, April 10, on X, the warning applies to much of the North Island and northern parts of the South Island, with the cyclone expected to move south across the North Island on Sunday, April 12 and early Monday, April 13. Additional areas are expected to move to an orange or red warning as the cyclone approaches and its track clears.
New Zealand is a country consisting of two main islands (the North Island and the South Island) and many smaller islands around it.
The combination of strong winds, heavy rains, and coastal flooding makes this a high-risk, potentially life-threatening event, the embassy announced.
It was also reported that the locations of the most severe impacts associated with this cyclone, such as power outages, fallen trees, flooding, landslides, road closures, and isolated communities, depend on the cyclone's track.
The New Zealand Meteorological Service (MetService) also announced a strong wind warning at red level in the following areas: Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island. While in the following areas there is a strong wind warning at orange level in the following areas: Northland,
Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui, Taranaki Whanganui, Gisborne/Tairawiti, Hawke's Bay and Taihapa, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.
Auckland, New Zealand, on a calmer day. Photo: ShutterstockThe Met Service went on to announced an orange level heavy rain warning in the following areas: Northland - from the south and around the Bay of Islands region to Hokianga Harbour,
Auckland and Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, including Rotorua, Gisborne/Tairawiti north of Tolaga Bay.
Click here to discover the cyclone's current track.