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Wind and swell batter Northland
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MetService Severe Weather: October 30th-31st
NOW PLAYING • MetService Severe Weather: October 30th-31st
MetService Severe Weather: October 30th-31st ...
Update:
Coromandel heavy rain watch in place until 8pm
Slip at SH25 Ruamahunga Bay
SH25 Tairua to Hikuai now open
Reports of people moving traffic management signs
Residents asked to conserve water at Coromandel Town, Matatoki, Puriri and Omahu
Power out for some residents
Wild weather has caused many issues across the North Island, flooding roads and smashing boats at sea as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Lola sweep across the country.
The Coromandel Peninsula started the day under a heavy rain warning but MetService has since issued a heavy rain watch for the 11 hours from 9am to 8pm.
It forecast frequent showers and said rainfall amounts could approach warning criteria.
“Note that while broad scale warning amounts of rain are no longer expected there may be heavy showers which could boost rainfall rates to 10 to 20 mm/h today.”
MetService initially warned heavy rain could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly.
Surface flooding and slips were also possible and driving conditions could be hazardous.
Kauaeranga River. Photo / Waikato Regional Council
Thames-Coromandel District Council emergency and crisis manager Garry Towler said this morning the weather was causing issues with the roads on both sides of the peninsula.
He said there was a slip on SH25 at Ruamahunga Bay and a crew would be arriving soon.
The flooding at Hikuai between Whangamatā and Whitianga had not subsided overnight and high tide was due soon.
He told RNZ there was another full day of rain ahead, “close to 450mm for this event”, and advised residents to “hunker down, avoid travel and ride this thing out.”
Waka Kotahi said just before 10am that flooding had receded sufficiently for SH25 between Tairua and Hikuai to now reopen. Motorists were asked to please take extra care with debris on the road through this area likely.
Story continues below live updates:
What you need to know:
* Power cut enters third day in Far North
*The inclement weather left North Islanders questioning when warmer conditions and sunshine would finally arrive. So when will the downpours end?
* More delays for Auckland commuter ferries this morning
* An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for Bay of Plenty, west of Matata including Rotorua until 7pm tonight. The region can expect a further 70 to 100mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen.
Trick or treaters beware - it's going to be wet and there's possible thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening.
Most people heading out and about this afternoon in the North Island will need to be prepared for rain.
"It's worth keeping an eye on the radar charts," says MetService forecaster John Law.
Law said the North Island is in for more showers today, and thunderstorms are possible in the central North Island regions.
He said the best place to be for trick or treating will be the South Island, particularly Greymouth and Queenstown.
"I have to say, some of the best places to be, if you're looking for dry and fine weather will be down in the South Island," said Law.
Law said the majority of the weather warnings are likely to downgraded to watches as the day progresses, except for Gisborne where a heavy rain warning will remain in place.
Ex-Cyclone Lola falls apart today, new low moves in from west
Pinned
30 October, 07:17 pm
Conserve water in Coromandel
Residents of Coromandel Town are being asked to conserve water for the coming two days after overnight heavy rain has caused the stream the council draws water from to have high sediment levels.
The Thames Coromandel District Council is warning the town's water treatment plant may need to be shut down at times. A water tanker is being set up for residents should the supply be affected.
A number of roads across Coromandel Peninsula remain affected by slips and flooding.
Pinned
30 October, 06:37 pm
Tree falls on Greerton house in Tauranga
A tree has fallen on a house in the Tauranga suburb of Greerton as wild weather continues to move down the North Island
The Karangahake Gorge Rd is about to be closed as work begins on a slip from overnight, TVNZ's Breakfast reports.
Pinned
30 October, 06:11 pm
Pinned
30 October, 06:11 pm
Bay of Plenty expecting further rain
An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for Bay of Plenty, west of Matata including Rotorua until 7pm tonight. The region can expect a further 70 to 100mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen.
Pinned
30 October, 05:54 pm
Power cut enters third day in Far North
Dozens of households are entering their third day without power following the storm.
Thirty-three homes east of Whangaroa in the Far North have had no power since Sunday after the Whangaroa feeder was damaged by a tree, according to electricity provider Top Power. Another 30 customers in Kaikohe have had no electricity since yesterday due a line fault.
Further south, Northpower says all power outages in its region have been resolved after thousands of people lost power in the storm.
In Auckland, a large part of Waiheke Island appears to have had no power since Sunday, although Vector’s outage map does not specify how many customers are affected.
In the Tauranga suburb of Tauriko 44 properties lost power just before 3am as the wild weather moved down the country. Another 68 properties in Paeroa also lost power last night, according to Powerco, and on the Coromandel Peninsula more than 20 properties are still in the dark, mostly in Coromandel Forest Park.
Pinned
30 October, 05:53 pm
When will the bad weather end for Auckland?
North Islanders are questioning when warmer conditions and sunshine would finally arrive.
Sixty-eight properties in Paeroa lost power last night, according to Powerco, and on the Coromandel Peninsula more than 20 properties were still in the dark, mostly in Coromandel Forest Park.
RNZ reported 280 properties lost electricity in the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty areas.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council this morning issued the following roads update:
Hikuai Settlement Rd is open.
Maramarahi Rd is open.
Kauaeranga Valley Rd is closed at the ford 8.7km from the start of the road.
Colville Rd is open to one lane.
Old Maratoto Rd (south of Thames) remains closed at the ford due to flooding.
Victoria St, Thames, remains closed due to surface flooding at the second ford 900m from the start for the road.
Tapu-Coroglen Rd remains closed due to the ongoing repair work from Cyclone Gabrielle damage.
The council said it had had reports of people moving signs and taking traffic management into their own hands.
Flooding at Kaiaua. Photo / Waikato Regional Council
“Please leave it to our roading contractors. If you spot any issues on roads report them to 0800 Highways (for State Highways) or our council’s call centre for local roads on 07 868 0200.”
Coromandel Town residents have been asked to conserve water for approximately the next 24 to 48 hours.
The council said the heavy rain yesterday and overnight had caused the stream it draws water from to carry a heavy sediment load. This meant the water treatment plant had to be shut off at times or process at a much slower rate due to the additional sediment in the water.
“If residents can be mindful of their water use at this time, it would be much appreciated.”
A water tanker would be set up in Coromandel Town for residents to use should water supply be affected.
Kauaeranga Valley Rd. Photo / Waikato Regional Council
Meanwhile, Matatoki, Puriri and Omahu residents are also asked to conserve water for approximately the next 24 to 48 hours.
A water tanker has been set up in Puriri for residents.
The Waikato Regional Council said last night the heavy rain had caused some localised flooding in the Coromandel Peninsula (Tairua River), and Hauraki areas (Kauaeranga River).
“Localised inundation (wave overtopping) has occurred, with impacts seen at Brophy’s Beach Whitianga, and Kaiaua near the boat ramp. With further rain forecast, further localised flooding may occur or continue, especially near high tide tonight and tomorrow morning.”
The Pinnacles rain gauge had recorded nearly 280mm of rain over a 24-hour period (as at 7pm), which was between two and five-year Average Return Interval.
“Our Hauraki Zone remains activated in response to the localised flooding. Staff will be ramping up efforts to manage the impacts of the flooding.
“Predicting additional impact areas remains difficult due to the dynamic nature of this event. With more rain, and convective (thunderstorm) forecast, there remains a high possibility of localised flooding, and land slips in the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki areas.
“While the impact to the region’s west coast, specifically the Port Waikato area, is not likely to be as severe as in eastern areas, caution should still be given to already land slip prone areas due to possible localised heavy rain (thunderstorms) and severe winds causing tree fall.”
The regional council said its Whitianga office had reopened to the public this morning after having to close yesterday. “With it being the last day for rates payments, we’ve already had a number of customers arrive.”
