Rotorua's sodden July not over yet

A large tree came down in Tiwha St in Koutu.Photo / Stephen Parker

It's been a wet old July in Rotorua - with more rain falling in the first 19 days than is average for the whole month.

Rotorua has been cleaning up after wild weather last Thursday sent trampolines flying, brought down trees and took out power to hundreds of homes.

MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters told the Rotorua Daily Post on Friday there had been more than 100mm between 1pm and midnight on Thursday.

Rotorua is to expect odd showers throughout the week. Photo / FIle

Wind gusts of up to 144km/h were recorded in exposed areas.

A Rotorua Lakes Council spokeswoman said contractors had been busy yesterday clearing away trees and debris left around the district after last week's weather.

"Only a few minor issues remain around the district. A few small slips are yet to be cleared but have safety signage in place."

Those slips are on Endean Rd, Te Kopia Rd (also a small underslip), Okaro Rd,
and Lake Okataina Rd.

On Okareka Loop Rd, Totara Rd and the Hossack Rd extension, there are trees that had fallen during the storm.

"These have been pushed to the berm and require more tidy work."

MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said for the next few days there would be a westerly wind leading to odd showers with sunny spells.

"From Thursday there will be a bit of rain coming through, mostly on Friday. However it should be clearing up to be a nice weekend."

He said while locals could look forward to a fine weekend, it would bring some chilly mornings.

"There had been lots of low-pressure systems bringing northeasterly winds, which in turn brought in piles of rain," Mr Adams said.

He said the rain gauge at Rotorua Airport had been broken since midnight on Wednesday "so it didn't capture the rain over the past few days" but from July 1 to July 19, 137.4mm of rain had fallen there.

Mr Adams said with the 10-year average July rainfall at Rotorua airport being 123mm, the current month had already "quite a lot" in comparison.

The rain gauge was in the process of being fixed yesterday.