Rainfall sets off red alert in wet weekend
New Zealanders can expect a weekend of heavy rain, with Cantabrians in particular warned to brace for the most significant rainfall in 10 years.
MetService is forecasting
200-300mm of rain around the Canterbury High Country, with up to
120mm of rain near the coast over today, tomorrow and Monday, prompting a red alert for a “significant weather event” for the area — only the second one issued by the forecaster.
It expects peak hourly rainfall rates to hit 10-20mm per hour later today and tomorrow, as well as heavy snow above the freezing level.
NZTA maintenance and operations senior manager Wayne Oldfield said the downpour had the potential to cause flooding, land instability and rivers to break banks.
“People should check the forecast before heading out, and keep an eye on our website and social media for updates and road closures,” Oldfield said.
Christchurch City Council’s Tim Drennan said pumps would be on standby in parts of Bromley, New Brighton, and the Flockton area.
“This is only the second red warning issued since the colour-coded system was introduced mid-2019”, said meteorologist Lisa Murray.
“The first was issued in February 2020 and caused significant impact, including roads being washed out, trapping about 1000 people in Milford and rivers bursting their banks causing significant flooding in Southland.”
While North Canterbury and the Kaiko¯ura coast are expected to be particularly badly hit, other regions can also expect wet and windy conditions.
Today up to 100mm of rain is expected around Nelson, with thunderstorms possible, and a strong wind watch is in place for Westland and Fiordland this afternoon, with winds approaching gale strength.
In the North Island, heavy falls and squally thunderstorms are likely from Taranaki to Waikato and the Bay of Plenty northwards.
Those in Whanga¯rei, Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua, can expect rain or showers over the weekend, with possible squally thunderstorms and hail.
King tides are expected to start easing over the weekend but large swells may affect Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Canterbury.
This week contractors and staff have had to tidy up debris and reclaim beaches swept away by a damaging storm surge off the east coast of the North Island.
On the Coromandel, Civil Defence controller Garry Towler said more rain was due to arrive this afternoon and there was a risk that high tides might back up water courses in lowlying areas.