Dinghies, rather than cars, would have been more useful in parts of South Dunedin yesterday after torrential rain hit the city. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Dinghies, rather than cars, would have been more useful in parts of South Dunedin yesterday after torrential rain hit the city. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Devonport house roof collapses and Dunedin shop owners sandbag their businesses.
Parts of the country were lashed by heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash floods yesterday wreaking havoc for Dunedin and areas of Auckland.
Heavy rain flooded a laboratory at Auckland Hospital and caused the roof of a Devonport home to collapse last night, while in Dunedin flooding caused major issues for many residents and businesses in the city.
Amid the weather chaos last night, a first-floor laboratory at the hospital in Grafton, was reported to be "majorly flooded" after heavy rain hit Auckland.
The Fire Service was called to the hospital about 5.30pm and a number of appliances responded, sending equipment to pump out the water.
Hours were spent pumping water out of Auckland Hospital last night.
The service was also called to Vauxhall Rd in Devonport about 5.10pm, after a home's roof collapsed.
Emergency workers help a motorist push his car to safety in Dunedin. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Meanwhile, in Dunedin, emergency services were stretched to handle widespread flooding as torrential rain pounded the city and coastal Otago. There were also reports of heavy surface flooding in Kaikorai Valley and Forbury.
Shop owners in South Dunedin's Hillside Rd battled the floodwaters with sandbags as firefighters' efforts to redirect the torrents caused flooding for others.
Dunedin Malthouse owner Trevor Grigg said although water had been rising in the gutter since he arrived at 9am, it began creeping towards his shop about noon after firefighters - trying to save Radius Fulton rest-home - redirected water down Hillside Rd.
Radius Fulton facility manager Robyn Bowie said residents were taking the torrential rain in their stride.
"They are loving it," she said.
The deluge was not enough to stop dozens of Catholic school pupils competing in rugby and football matches at Bayfield Park, in Dunedin.
St Peter's College pupil Byron Taylor limped shivering from the field after the "equal" wettest game of rugby he had ever played.
But after the past few days of downpours, flash floods and cold temperatures, Philip Duncan of WeatherWatch said the weather was expected to clear by the weekend.
"This weekend, the large low that was last night and early this morning crossing over the middle of New Zealand will clear the country. A high will slide in just north of the country, settling conditions down in the north, especially on Sunday."
Over the next few days, heavy showers and gusty winds may affect some North Island regions.
Tomorrow showers will be mostly light and coastal and dry out in more places by the afternoon or evening.
Saturday should be calm for Auckland but showers at sea may drift in. Otherwise a dry day with southwest winds easing is expected. NZME.
