Cold night ahead, Western Springs closure and regional round-up

Aucklanders are in for a chilly night with overnight lows of 6-7 degrees expected by Metservice and Auckland Emergency Management is urging people to check in on the vulnerable.

Director John Dragicevich urges people to look out for their neighbours, check in with friends and family, and make sure they are coping ok.

“This is a time for us all to work together. Some people have been without power for almost 24 hours – this means cold water, food hygiene issues and a chilly night without heating.

“If you live next to someone who may be vulnerable, please pop over and check on them,” he says.

People that can’t call on family or friends for help can call Auckland Emergency Management on 0800 22 22 00 for advice and assistance. If your life is at risk, phone 111.

In addition to low temperatures, Metservice advises that S-SW winds will strengthen after 8pmtonight gusting up to 90km/hr over open waters.

Tomorrow, another burst of heavy, possibly thundery rain and wind is forecast to cross Auckland from 9pm tomorrow (Thursday) and a severe weather watch is now in place for the Auckland region and Great Barrier Island.

There is an expected low of 9 degrees tomorrow.

The expected gusts with the second event are likely to be at lower intensity than seen last night.

REGIONAL ROUND-UP

Auckland Council’s call centre, since Tuesday, has received 1070 calls relating to downed trees.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has received 1200 calls as a result of the storm.

Western Springs Lakeside Park walk closure

Western Springs park circuit walk is closed and has been cordoned off due to significant damage to the park from yesterday’s storm event.

A number of trees have come down at the park and will need to be removed. Other trees have dangling and unstable limbs that will pose significant risks to the public until they are removed.

Arborists are currently on site assessing the damage. We request that people avoid the park until further notice.

Fukuoka Friendship Garden has not suffered major damage and will remain accessible from Auckland Zoo carpark.

Public transport
• Trains: Clearance has been received to re-open Swanson Station. All lines are now fully open, and operating to their published timetables.
• Ferries: Northcote has re-opened and all ferry services are operating as normal.

Power
• Around 90,000 homes have had their power restored since the worst of the storm. However, there are still several hundred outages affecting 93,000 homes and businesses. It may be several days until power is restored in some areas as crews need to prioritise.
• Vector is urging members of the public to make contingency plans should power to their homes not be restored before this evening.
• For more information please check vector.co.nz

Libraries
• Avondale, Māngere Bridge, Mt Roskill, Ōtāhuhu, St Heliers and Titirangi libraries are closed until further notice and all mobile libraries are not operating.
• Māngere East and Onehunga libraries have reopened.
• For updates, please check aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

Owairaka/ Mt Albert
• Large trees have fallen across roads within the maunga, so Owairaka/ Mt Albert will remain closed until these are able to be cleared.
Pools & Leisure
• Manurewa Pool and Leisure Centre closed. Power has been restored and the site will reopen tomorrow as normal
• Papatoetoe Centennial Pool and Leisure Centre closed. Will remain closed for the remainder of the day and attempt to reopen tomorrow as normal if power comes back ontonight.
• West Wave Pool and Leisure Centre – open. The facility is open but the Wave Pool and Hydro Therapy Pool are expected to be open tomorrow
• All other facilities are open.
Waste collection
• The council is not anticipating any impacts on rubbish collection dates.
• We suggest people ensure their bins are secured at all times when they’re not out for collection.

© Scoop Media