Flooding from NZ-wide storm causes road closures, campsites evacuated
FLOODING caused mayhem for holiday-makers due to road closures and a South Island campsite was evacuated after a storm swept across New
Zealand yesterday.
MetService issued a heavy rain warning for the lower parts of the South Island, including north Otago, Dunedin, and the Clutha areas until midnight.
There was also a severe thunderstorm watch in place for much of the North Island.
Flooding had been reported in the Waikato region, in both Morrinsville and Whangamata¯, with photographs showing surface flooding on roads.
MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said shortly after 5pm thunderstorms were running down the North Island.
Heavy rain was battering Northland and the Coromandel, Marsters said, as well as the Hu¯nua Ranges in south
Auckland.
MetService tweeted that more than 1100 lightning strikes were detected in two hours over the North Island and a rain gauge on Mill Rd near Manurewa had recorded about 30 millimetres of rain between 11am and noon, which was ‘‘head and shoulders above everyone else’’.
Taranaki had seen 20mm of rain in total as of 12.30pm, while Northland saw 14mm of rain between about 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
A lack of wind meant the storm was slow-moving, which could cause flooding. ‘‘Wherever they bubble off, they kind of stay.’’
In the South Island, the New Zealand Transport Agency said SH6, between Kingston and Queenstown, was closed due to flooding and slips while SH1 is closed due to flooding at
Maheno, which is just south of amaru.
The Kakanui Bridge, near Maheno and on SH1, was closed. Waitaki District Council said the bridge was unsafe because of debris build-up on its central piers.
Meanwhile, SH87, from Kyeburn to Outram, was closed
due to the washout of the Kokonga Bridge. SH83 from Otematata to Aviemore was also closed due to flooding.
The Waitaki District Council said police were evacuating campers at the Boat Harbour campsite in Otematata as the river is threatening to break the flood bank.
Otematata’s local domain had been opened for campers who cannot make it home.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence urged holidaymakers around Otago to consider delaying travel so they did not get stranded.
Group Controller for Emergency Management Otago, Matt Alley, said driving would only get trickier in much of Otago throughout the night, as rain was expected to continue until about 3am today.
‘‘Staying where you are for tonight is a better option than
being stranded in your vehicle or needing to be rescued from a dangerous situation,’’ he said.
A flood team at the Otago Regional Council were modelling ‘‘significant rises’’ in river levels, Alley said.
In Waikaia, Southland, local farmer Rodney Williamson said just before 7pm the rain was ‘‘teeming down’’ and he was helping neighbours move stock to higher ground as rivers continued to rise.
He had also just turned the power off at a neighbour’s house as the property was at risk of being flooded.
The water supply for Patearoa, in Central Otago, was shut down to prevent draining of water reservoirs in the event that the water line is damaged.
The Patearoa Bridge was damaged by the wet weather.
Parts of northern Otago had seen 100mm of rain in 18 hours meaning the Kakanui and Kauru rivers had ‘‘risen rapidly’’, according to Otago Regional Council spokeswoman Sharon Hornblow.
The Taieri catchment’s source was also rising, which could affect Silverstream and cause flooding within the Gordon Rd floodway, she added.
In Southland, the Waikaia River burst its banks at Piano Flat, a Stuff reporter said.
‘‘It started raining here on New Year’s Eve and hasn’t stopped – we had 24mm on New Year’s Day, and it’s predicted to rain until Wednesday.’’
It started raining here on New Year’s Eve and hasn’t stopped – we had 24mm on New Year’s Day, and it’s predicted to rain until Wednesday.’