80km/h gusts could disrupt Auckland Harbour Bridge travel on Friday
Strong winds are expected to affect travel across the Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has warned bridge commuters that their journeys could be impacted by wind gusts of up to 80km/h between midday and 4pm on Friday.
It has urged motorists to drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic messaging boards on the motorway that could advise of lane closures or reduced speed limits.
“If there is potential for sudden and high wind gusts on the bridge, lowering the speed limit gives motorists time to react and take more care,” NZTA said in a statement.
The strong Friday winds expected in Auckland are part of more extreme weather predicted around the country.
Watches and warnings have been issued across eastern parts of the North Island and much of the South Island.
High winds are predicted to hit the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Friday. Photo / Michael Craig
An orange strong wind warning is in place for Wellington and Wairarapa (excluding the Tararua district), with severe gale northwesterlies gusting 130km/h in exposed places. Strong wind watches were issued for Marlborough (southwest of the Awatere River) and Hawke’s Bay (west and south of Wairoa) and Tararua.
A heavy orange rain warning starts at midnight for the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur’s Pass National Park, with peak rain rates of 25mm/h expected to accompany thunderstorms.
Further south, Milford Rd will be under a 12-hour snowfall warning from 5am tomorrow as up to 8cm of snow may accumulate around the Homer Tunnel.
Auckland could be in for warmer temperatures, with highs of 18C. Christchurch also has highs in the late teens forecast before rain on Sunday.
A low-pressure system developing in the Tasman Sea is expected to bring widespread downpours.
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