Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park was hit by severe flooding. Video / Omarama Top Ten Holiday Park
Severe weather is set to continue for parts of the country today with heavy rain causing slips in the South Island and strong winds expected in Wellington.
An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago lakes as well as Westland south of Otira this morning.
Orange strong wind warnings have been issued for Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa south of Greytown, Canterbury and Otago.
Lake Ohau Rd on Tuesday morning. Photo / Supplied
Heavy rain watches are also in place for Taranaki, Tasman and parts of Buller.
Record rainfall has been recorded in Aoraki Mt Cook Village and Wanaka.
371mm fell from 9am on Monday to 9am on Tuesday at the village, a new daily record for July according to Niwa. That's more than a month's worth of rain in 25 hours.
It was also the third wettest day overall since records began in 1928.
48.6mm was recorded in Wanaka in the same time frame - it's wettest day of July on record.
The Lindis Pass, SH8 Tarras to Twizel and SH83 Otematata between Omarama and Kurow, remain closed this morning due to slips and flooding. SH6 Haast to Lake Hawea is closed due to fallen trees.
Increased avalanche risk has closed SH94 Te Anau to Milford, between Hollyford and the Donne River. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says helicopter explosive works are expected to start today but good weather and visibility conditions are required.
South along State Highway 8 towards the Lindis Pass summit lookout. Photo / Supplied
"Subject to this being successful we plan to have safe access in and out of Milford Sound this afternoon."
A slip on the road to Mt Cook on Tuesday morning. Photo / Supplied
Road snowfall warnings have been issued for the Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd (SH94).
Damage on SH77 Blackford Rd from severe weather on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied
A slip on SH77 Blackford Rd on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied
A strong wind warning is in place for the Lewis Pass and SH73 Springfield to Arthur's Pass. The NZTA is urging motorists to take extra care throughout the day, especially if you are on a motorcycle or in a lighter or high-sided vehicle.
Well, what do you know! With all that wind, we had more than a few windiest spots for their year! 🌬
SH6 Kingston to Lumsden is open but caution is advised due to surface flooding. Motorists are also advised to be cautious in the Kawarau Gorge because of rockfalls.
Lake Ohau Rd on Tuesday morning. Photo / Supplied
And Lake Ohau village was left completely cut off due to severe flooding in the area.
A bridge on Lake Ohau Rd had been swept away on Tuesday, meaning motorists could not get across.
Meanwhile, the Omarama Gazette reported properties alongside the Omarama Stream, including the Top 10 Holiday Park, had to be evacuated on Monday night.
Both Omarama and Otematata remain cut off from the rest of the district this morning after extensive flooding closed state highways in and out of the towns.
Omarama Fire Brigade volunteers clear blocked mud tanks in Totara Peak Cres, Omarama on Monday night. Photo / Omarama Gazette
More than 90mm of rain has fallen in the Omarama township since midnight Sunday.
Flooding also threatened properties in town when mud tanks overflowed turning streets into lakes.
Properties alongside the Omarama Stream, including the Top 10 Holiday Park, had to be evacuated on Monday night. Photo / Omarama Gazette
The Omarama Volunteer Fire Brigade was called at about 6.15pm to clear blocked tanks in Totara Peak Cres after council contractors advised they would not be attending, the Omarama Gazette reported.
It comes after strong winds brought down trees and cut power to hundreds of properties in Canterbury on Monday.
RNZ reported about 2000 Orion customers and 500 MainPower customers in North Canterbury were affected by power outages due to storm damage.
Strong winds caused trees to fall in Sheffield on Monday. Photo / George Heard
A further 600 people covered by EA Networks and 300 from Alpine Energy were without power in South Canterbury.
One person driving from Christchurch through to Tekapo told RNZ a large number of trees had fallen on the road between Christchurch and Ashburton.
Waka Kotahi said conditions were likely to be particularly treacherous in some areas on Monday night and urged motorists to stay alert and up to date with notifications.
Civil Defence on alert
Canterbury Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group has activated the emergency coordination centre in response to the severe weather.
CDEM Canterbury group controller Sean Poff said it was expecting the peak to hit overnight on Monday and into Tuesday.
"Several Council Emergency Operation Centres have been activated throughout the region, others on stand-by ready to activate. All agencies are monitoring the situation and liaising on potential responses needed."
Widespread power outages due to the wind were also expected to continue, Poff said.
"We expect these to generally be restored within 6-12 hours in daylight, but you may need to be prepared for power outages to last longer."
The weather was particularly bad this time because it was unusual for it to reach so far east from the tops of the Southern Alps, he said.
