KEY POINTS:
Manawatu motorists are being advised to take extreme caution after heavy rain caused surface flooding in Palmerston North and Wanganui today.
Palmerston North police said delays were likely, and council authorities were at areas of major flooding.
The city's stormwater system had been unable to cope with the volume of water, and city council work crews were clearing grates and channels of debris and blockages, council spokesman Malcolm Hopwood said.
Sandbagging was being carried out in the Heretaunga Street area near the Little Kawau Stream and in Manuka Street to direct water away from buildings.
There had been some reports of water entering buildings.
Council water and waste services manager Chris Pepper said the city had not experienced such intense rain in recent years.
He advised motorists to take care around Palmerston North.
In Wanganui, 60mm of rain fell in 12 hours and in Palmerston North 51mm in that time, MetService forecaster Sarah Garlick said.
The rain was expected to ease this evening.
- NZPA
