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Wanganui and Palmerston North are preparing for a second dose of heavy rain tomorrow following substantial flooding in both areas yesterday.
The MetService has issued a warning for the Central North Island, Taranaki and Wanganui, including the headwaters of the Whanganui River, with rain starting about 11am tomorrow.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said council infrastructure staff were making preparations in case of flooding, including organising a supply of sandbags, clearing sumps and checking key structures.
The council also advised the public to clear gutters on their homes, drive carefully and slowly through areas of surface flooding and keep children away from flood-affected areas.
If the forecast rain eventuates, the increased volume from the headwaters of the Whanganui River could see the river rise quickly, but issues were unlikely to occur until late Thursday or Friday.
Several Palmerston North streets flooded yesterday as heavy rain overloaded the city's stormwater system, city council spokesman Malcolm Hopwood said.
The MetService said 56mm of rain fell in Wanganui in six hours and 49mm in Palmerston North yesterday in a five-hour period.
- NZPA
