By RNZ.co.nz

Power outages, downed trees, flooding and empty aisles at supermarkets are some of the early impacts being seen as Cyclone Gabrielle lashes the upper North Island.

At the Onerahi ramp in Whangārei with about an hour to go till high tide.

At the Onerahi ramp in Whangārei with about an hour to go till high tide. Photo: Supplied/ Adrienne Chubb

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines.

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines. Photo: Supplied / Northpower / Facebook

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines.

Cyclone winds have caused major damage to the Northpower network, much of it from trees falling through lines. Photo: Supplied / Northpower / Facebook

A damaged power pole near Warkworth.

A damaged power pole near Warkworth. Photo: Supplied / Vector Limited

Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon, as Cyclone Gabrielle makes its way to New Zealand.

The sea was surging at Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Supplied / Chris Newson

Orewa Beach on Sunday afternoon, as Cyclone Gabrielle makes its way to New Zealand.

Strong winds and a high tide at the north Auckland beach. Photo: Supplied / Chris Newson

Strong winds and a high tide have washed away part of Orewa Beach in north Auckland. One kite surfer is out in the heavy swell.

One kite surfer was out in the heavy swell at the beach. Photo: RNZ / Rhonwyn Newson

Strong winds and a high tide have washed away part of Orewa Beach in north Auckland. One kite surfer is out in the heavy swell.

Photo: RNZ / Rhonwyn Newson

Flooding has begun as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle on Riverside Drive in Northland's Whangārei.

Heavy rain from the cyclone caused flooding at Riverside Drive in Northland’s Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati

Flooding has begun as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle on Riverside Drive in Northland's Whangārei.

Riverside Drive in Northland’s Whangārei. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati

Cyclone Gabrielle is causing havoc in the Far North, downing trees and powerlines. Photos by Top Energy NZ

In the Far North, trees and powerlines came down, causing an outage to about 1500 properties on Friday morning. Photo: Supplied / Top Energy NZ

Cyclone Gabrielle is causing havoc in the Far North, downing trees and powerlines. Photos by Top Energy NZ

Photo: Supplied / Top Energy NZ

In Auckland, crews were working to restore electricity at Karekare on the west coast, in Henderson and pockets of east Auckland and the North Shore.

There were also outages at Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, Waharoa in Waikato and Inglewood in Taranaki.

Auckland Airport has prepared itself for further flooding and has sandbags waiting. The airport was severely affected during Auckland's January deluge.

Auckland Airport has braced itself for flooding and has sandbags at the ready after being severely affected during January’s deluge. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine

Air New Zealand announced international arrivals and departures on Monday would be extremely limited. There are also domestic flight cancellations through to Tuesday.

Essentials have sold out at supermarkets across Auckland as people prepare for Cyclone Gabrielle. This includes shelves bare of milk and bread.

Essentials were sold out at several supermarkets across Auckland as people prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Jonty Dine

Bread aisle at St Luke’s Countdown were wiped clean as Aucklanders prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle.

The bread aisle at St Luke’s Countdown was wiped clean on Sunday morning. Photo: RNZ / Veronica Schmidt

Authorities are reassuring people supermarkets will stay open and urged people not to panic-buy.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visits Auckland Transport's operation centre in Takapuna, North Shore as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visits Auckland Transport’s operation centre in Takapuna, North Shore as Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall. Photo: RNZ / Ashleigh McCaull

Army personnel from 16 Field Regiment unload supplies at the Central Distribution Centre in Auckland alongside volunteers from the Auckland City Council. Essential supplies such as blankets, torches and pillows will be distributed throughout Auckland as part of Op Awhina.

Today personnel from our New Zealand Army’s 16 Field Regiment assisted in delivering and unloading more than 50 pallets of emergency supplies to the central distribution centre in Auckland ahead of the severe weather from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Defence Force

PM Chris Hipkins arrives at Hub West, a community facility in Henderson to see cyclone response

Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Cyclone Gabrielle on 12 February.

Satellite imagery of Cyclone Gabrielle on 12 February. Photo: Twitter / NIWA

National Emergency Management Agency message: Cyclone Gabrielle will impact much of the North Island with severe gales, heavy rain and very large waves forecast from today through to Tuesday.

This is expected to be an unprecedented and dangerous weather event.

MetService has issued severe weather warnings for many parts of the North Island.

Keep up to date with MetService weather warnings and advice from your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

Adhere to all advice and instructions from authorities.

Cyclone Gabrielle will also exacerbate the impacts for those communities recovering from recent floods

Avoid travelling during severe weather, and check Waka Kotahi for road closures.

  • Do what you can to prepare your household for the coming days.
  • Information about preparing for storms can be found at getready.govt.nz.
  • Call 111 if you feel in any danger.

Stay safe. Don’t take any chances.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR