A Wild Day in Auckland

The forecast storm hit this morning and by lunchtime wind in the harbour was gusting 60kts. In the outer gulf up to 90kts. Combine that with a king tide at 1300hrs meant some excitement around the waterfront. For those of you who don't know Auckland. Tamaki Drive runs around the south side of the harbour, and in one place gets close to sealevel especially at king tide. I think the road has subsided a bit. In fact the sea was coming across there today. Not helped by the fact that the wind was driving the sea in to the wall as well. I decided to brave it and see what I could capture. Taken wit the the A700 and SAL18-250. Most from the safety of the car for obvious reasons and as demonstrated in a couple of photos. Had to clean the lens a few times
Hope you enjoy them.
The 1st series is by the Tamaki yacht club -normally you can stand out on the point.




The reason I stayed in the car -otherwise these buggers crept up behind you


The yacht club is also a wedding venue - check the windows to the right -yep. a wedding reception. Wetting the happy couple??


Nearer the city are boat moorings. Now what is this guy up to?


Well, just behind him is actually a bridge - and a don't think this is meant to fit there.


To the rescue


Well, actually not quite - they towed it over to the marina but it sank before it got there.





Edited by happyjack - 26 July 2008 at 07:19

At 1200UTC (0000 Local) the storm's forcast to be directly east of us here in Auckland. Looking at the rain radar, it's showing Whangarei (in the north) is getting a poounding right now, with it tracking south-east along the coast.
It's certainly made for an interesting time at work tonight.

Hi Cam & ZKC. At 6pm Cape Reinga was 967hPa - Auckland recorded at 967 so your barometer spot on. The noon synoptic chart shows the centre at 968. I did see a week or so ago a low in the southern ocean at 911!!
We are under a ridge that shelters us from the N to SE, so had no idea this morning that it was blowing stink out there. Had to listen to the coastguard to know what was happening. But looks as though it is going to the good old SW tomorrow so will get it full blast.
ZKC -what sort of jobe makes it interesting? Harbour pilot, ferry skipper, pilot?
Wonder what the Waiheke ferry was like this afternoon with outgoing king tide against 50kts in the Motuihe channel. I would think aves would have been about 6-7m with about the same between them. That can be one very small stretch of rough water. I have heard about passengers coming off crying in such conditions. Ride 'em cowboy.

Edited by happyjack - 26 July 2008 at 09:05

A couple from Waiake-




And one from Longbay

happyjack wrote: ZKC -what sort of jobe makes it interesting? Harbour pilot, ferry skipper, pilot?

I'm a Flight Despatcher for Air NZ. It's not every day that a 747 has to be parked into wind!

Hang in there, guys. Thanks for capturing and posting, but stay safe. (Or if you must risk yourselves, at least protect your equipment!)

Walt

Got the next three days off so I might go and see what I can capture. Knowing my luck it's going to be blue skys and light winds