Hawke's Bay escapes worst of long weekend weather blast

Senior Constable Greg Andrew directs traffic around surface flooding at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Tangoio Settlement Rd yesterday morning. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hawke's Bay got off fairly lightly this Queen's Birthday weekend as heavy rain wreaked havoc on roads in northern parts of the country.

The region was under a weather watch for the latter part of the weekend, with predictions of heavy rain and rainfall accumulations potentially approaching warning criteria.

However, dark clouds did not deliver the anticipated deluge.

Metservice meteorologist Claire Flynn said Mahia had received the most rain this weekend; just under 90mm fell in a 24-hour period.

Napier had received 35mm in the same period, Hastings got 31.8mm, Wairoa 25.4mm and the Takapau Plains 28.6mm.

While many had to put up with persistent wet conditions, Flynn said Hawke's Bay had fared well compared to other parts of the country.

"I think the largest rainfall totals were seen in Northland, Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty and the ranges north of Gisborne."

Yesterday the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) issued area warnings for surface flooding from Glengarry to Bay View on State Highway 5 and Tangoio to Tutira on State Highway 2.

Hawke's Bay police responded to reports of surface flooding at the intersection of SH2 and Tangoio Settlement Rd at 8.30am.

Traffic flow was reduced to one lane and the lower part of a nearby cemetery was underwater.

Higgins contractors were at the scene, where it was thought a drain had been blocked, and the flooding was under control by mid morning.

Flynn said the wet weather would persist into the coming week before clearing for the weekend.

"We're expecting rain on and off for Hawke's Bay into Tuesday but it should gradually clear later in the day.

"On Wednesday there could be a few showers around in the morning but then we've got a front coming through in the afternoon which could bring a period of rain in the second half of the day and the winds will strengthen so it could be gusty around the coast."

Inland areas were expected to stay dry on Thursday, with rainfall around the coast, while strong southwesterlies lingered before clearing at the weekend, the meteorologist said.

Temperatures were expected to remain fairly warm all week with a high of 18C on Tuesday and overnight temperatures dropping to 4C overnight.

Motorists heading home from their holiday destinations yesterday were advised to take extra care on the roads as weather watches for rainfall amounts reaching warning criteria were in force for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.