Far North civil defence at the ready

Far North District Council civil defence teams and contractors are on stand-by ready to work this weekend to deal with any fall-out from this weekend’s predicted storm.

MetService warnings that an intense storm will be tracking across Northland this Saturday and Sunday have triggered the council’s preparatory response.

District Facilities general manager Alastair Wells says 80 to 100mm of rain is predicted between 6am and 9pm on Saturday with peak intensities of 10 to 15mm per hour.

“Winds may be up to 120 kilometres an hour in exposed places and this, along with tidal surges, will probably be our main concern rather than flooding as a result of rainfall,” he said.

“The council’s civil defence teams will be keeping a close eye on things during the next 24 hours or so and road, water, wastewater and town maintenance crews have been alerted and will be ready to spring into action.

‘’People are advised to monitor weather forecasts, secure anything that may blow around and cause damage, and only travel at the height of the storm if necessary,” Mr Wells added. “Our advice suggests the storm will be intense but we hope it will pass through quite quickly.”