Former Tropical Cyclone Tam Strikes New Zealand's North Island

Wellington, April 17 (NationPress) Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam has brought intense weather conditions to New Zealand's Northland and Auckland, resulting in power outages for thousands and extensive damage as it moves southward.

Heavy rainfall and fierce winds have toppled power lines, uprooted trees, blocked roads, and disrupted transportation.

As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 5,000 properties in Northland were still without electricity, with Northpower, the local electric distribution company, indicating that repairs may take up to three days.

At the storm's height, more than 8,700 homes in Northland were affected, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

Telecommunications services were also compromised due to power outages impacting cellphone towers, RNZ noted on Thursday.

Air New Zealand canceled numerous flights, and several ferry services in Auckland were halted. Drivers were advised to exercise caution on the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to high winds, with the local council receiving 284 storm-related calls from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon, local media reported.

In a precautionary step, MetService has opted to continue referring to the weather system as Cyclone Tam, despite its formal downgrade, to highlight the gravity of the situation.

The cyclone is now advancing toward Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and the upper South Island, prompting forecasts of a tumultuous and wet Easter weekend, according to MetService.

Cyclone Tam, which originated earlier this week near New Caledonia, is causing widespread disruption from Northland to Auckland and is anticipated to move further south by the week's end.

On April 16, a yacht reportedly sank off the coast of Northland, while wind gusts reached up to 130 km/h at Cape Reinga. In Auckland, severe winds led to multiple lane closures on the Harbour Bridge throughout the afternoon and evening.

Northland has been primarily affected by the storm, with residents being warned to prepare for ongoing strong winds, significant swells, and potential thunderstorms. MetService meteorologist Georgina Law indicated that “some locally intense bursts of rainfall” are also to be expected. Heavy rainfall has already been recorded in Whangarei, with the storm steadily advancing toward Auckland.

Authorities are urging residents, particularly those reliant on electrically powered medical devices, to brace for additional power interruptions.

The impact of Cyclone Tam is predicted to persist into Friday, with areas including Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and the northern South Island likely to experience effects next. An updated list of weather warnings and watches is set to be released at 9 p.m. on April 16.

Residents are advised to stay alert, follow official weather updates, and prioritize safety as the storm continues.