Gales extend weather issues
Strong winds in the Canterbury High Country caused a power outage near Geraldine yesterday and closed roads, including one highway where trees had fallen.
And Timaru residents are still being asked to conserve water, with bad weather forecast for the weekend, expected to ‘‘make conditions challenging’’, the district council says.
Several roads South Canterbury had stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions in place because of pavement damage as at 4.30pm yesterday, including State Highway 1 between Ashburton and
Glenavy, SH82 Waimate to Kurow, SH8 between Ō mā rama and Twizel, and Ō mā rama to the Lindis Pass.
Motorists on these roads are advised to travel with care and expect uneven surfaces, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency said.
Earlier yesterday a person was taken to Timaru Hospital in a moderate condition after they crashed into a tree that had fallen onto SH8 between Tekapo and Lake Pukaki.
Orange weather warnings were in place for parts of the Canterbury High Country.
The warnings came just days after heavy rain caused rivers to rise, schools to close, and an evacuation from an area beside the Ō pihi River.
Heavy rain and wind in the high country also prompted other warnings from Waka Kotahi with road users on SH 83 Otematata advised to travel with care, because of surface flooding, and users on SH8 Lake Tekapo to Twizel urged to take extra care, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, because of strong winds.
Meanwhile, motorists on SH8 Omā ¯ rama to Tarras (Lindis Pass) should expect stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions, because of emergency repair work.
This will be in place, from 9am to 5pm each day until tomorrow.
‘‘Plan your journey accordingly and expect up to 5-minute delays travelling through this area during these times,’’ Waka Kotahi said.
Also, on SH80 to Aoraki/Mt Cook extra care is required especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, the agency says.
Slips between Whale Stream and Glentanner ‘ following last week’s flooding also meant motorists should expect narrow sections of road ‘‘under single lane traffic management and temporary speed restrictions as repairs are carried out’’.
Road closures
The weather was also having an impact in the Waimate District, with its council reporting several roads closed because of fallen trees and flood damage.
On Tara Hill Rd trees were down at the start of the road near Serpentine Valley Rd.
‘‘Rough access around the closed area is possible, extreme care required,’’ council said.
The Glenavy Tawai Rd ford was closed due to flood damage, while the Hakataramea Pass was open to 4WD vehicles only until the road is fully repaired.
Forecast
MetService meteorologist Peter Little said yesterday a gust of 109kmh was recorded at Aoraki Mt Cook between 3am and 4am and Fairlie recorded 102kmh between 7am and 8am.
Little said it was expected to
be windy in the Canterbury High Country until last evening.
He said another front is expected from tomorrow into Friday which will bring some rainfall to the high country, but coastal areas are expected to be sheltered with dry conditions. Power outage
Alpine Energy reported an unplanned power outage due to severe weather in Peel Forest and Waihaorunga which occurred at 12.06pm yesterday and was expected to be restored by last night. Conserve water notice
A Timaru District Council spokesperson said there was no real change in the status after they warned Timaru water supply consumers the line between getting through the shortage and getting a boil water notice was ‘‘wafer thin’’.
‘‘We’re continuing to ask people to conserve water as the forecast weather could make conditions challenging over the weekend,’’ the spokesperson said.
The council has previously warned that if the water conservation plea is not heeded, it will be forced to impose a boil water notice for the scheme.
A council spokesperson said on Sunday the conservation notice is expected to last ‘‘as long as it needs to’’ and it would depend on the weather and quality of rivers.