Northland drivers urged to take extreme care as wet windy weather ends summer dry

The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists in Northland and Auckland to take extreme care on the roads and prepare for possible heavy rain as the wettest and windiest weather of the summer heads our way.

Tropical Cyclone Oma now look unlikely to reach New Zealand, but warm moist air from the cyclone is bringing warm and humid weather to the north.

Metservice says a low pressure system from the Tasman Sea is expected to approach the north of the North Island on Friday, then move southeast across Northland overnight Friday, bringing rain and strong winds to Northland and northeast parts of Auckland.

It’s currently forecasting periods of rain, sometimes heavy, from 6am to Midnight Friday in Northland and from 4pm Friday to 6am Saturday for Auckland north of Orewa.

The NZ Transport Agency is urging drivers to be aware there could be potentially hazardous ‘summer ice’ on the region’s roads.

“There is rain forecast across the region, and after an extended run of very hot and dry summer days we may initially experience very slippery road surfaces, otherwise known as summer ice,” says System Manager Wayne Oldfield.

“Even a very small amount of light rain can make the roads very slippery after a long dry spell. In fact, it can be more hazardous than heavy rain because grime and exhaust particles that have built up on the road take longer to be washed away.

“The slippery film on the surface of the road is invisible, so don’t assume it’s not there just because you can’t see it.”

“We ask that drivers keep safe in these conditions by increasing their following distances, reducing their speeds and taking extra care.”

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