Strong winds, rain hit nation today
Parts of the South Island are bracing for more flooding, with heavy rain due across much of New Zealand today. While the rain which was expected to begin falling overnight won’t be as heavy as last weekend’s deluge, forecasters warned areas that are already waterlogged are in the firing line again.
MetService has heavy rain warnings in place for parts of Nelson and Westland, where up to 150mm of rain could accumulate about the ranges. The warnings will be in place until tonight.
Streams and rivers could rise rapidly and surface flooding and slips are possible, the warnings say. Strong or severe gales were expected before the rain arrived.
Torrential rain in the region last week led to the Buller River topping its banks and flooding Westport. The “one-in-100-year” flood event left many people homeless, and more than 100 homes unliveable.
Niwa is forecasting “extremely high river flows” in response to the forecast heavy rain over the top of the South Island, and warns people to never drive through floodwaters.
MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said most of the country would be affected to some extent. Heavy rain is due for inland Marlborough, the Tasman district and parts of Buller, where the ground’s already saturated.
The active front would hit Fiordland and the West Coast before moving up the South Island, Corrigan said.
The strong winds and rain would arrive in Auckland and Northland by today, he said.
Commuters should “stay safe and drive to the conditions”, today.
The front would then move across to the western Bay of Plenty and the northern Gisborne region.
Heavy rain watches are in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Taranaki from this morning.
Strong wind watches are also in place today for much of the North Island, Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury high country.