Farmers in northern Hawke’s Bay are counting their blessings after more than 100mm of rain fell in the area in two days without any sign of the flooding that devastated the district in Cyclone Gabrielle and again in June this year.
Mayor Craig Little, who farms at Ohuka, between Wairoa and Lake Waikaremoana, was a little worried when he heard of flooding of some shops in the Marine Parade business centre on Monday, but said 24 hours later there appeared to have been no damage and it was “good summer rain” the district needed as residents started to fret that its calamities might be followed by a drought.
“If there had been no more rain by January people would be getting a bit worried,” he said.
Rain was still falling as forecast early on Tuesday afternoon, more than 36 hours after it started, and a heavy rain watch posted by national weather agency MetService was still in place, for the 36 hours from Wednesday at 8am to Thursday at 8pm, forecasting heavy rain for areas of Hawke’s Bay north of State Highway 5 (the Napier-Taupō road).
It said amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the Wairoa District, that thunderstorms were possible from late Thursday morning, and there was a moderate chance of the warning being upgraded.
