Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui escapes unscathed, but more heavy rain coming

Laurel Stowell
By Laurel Stowell
Reporter·Whanganui Chronicle·
10 Apr, 2018 05:16 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

There was a series of lightning strikes on Tuesday morning and more heavy rain expected overnight - but Whanganui and Rangitikei managed to survive winter's first major storm.

However, worse is to come with MetService predicting up to 120 millimetres of rain will fall across Whanganui, Taranaki, Taihape and the Tararuas by 11pm Wednesday night. At times there could be 15mm to 25mm an hour - and that is heavy rain.

Rivers and streams will rise, and there may be surface flooding and slips.

The Whanganui River was predicted to reach 6 metres at Pipiriki by 10pm Tuesday night - its first warning stage. Barriers are erected along Anzac Parade when it reaches 11m, and it threatens the Anzac Parade stopbanks when it reaches 15m at Pipiriki.

Heavy rain fell in Whanganui at times on Tuesday. Photo/ Liz Wylie.
Heavy rain fell in Whanganui at times on Tuesday. Photo/ Liz Wylie.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Mangawhero, Turakina and Whangaehu rivers were also rising.

Whanganui District Council emergency managers were watching river levels on Tuesday night, officer Anthony Edwards said.

Temperatures in Whanganui dropped to 12C yesterday, with an expected 6C overnight. Winds were expected to rise during the evening, and turn to the south, and hail was possible on Wednesday morning.

Places farther out in the region fared worse yesterday. Taranaki was hammered by thunder and lightning, rain and wind, with a tornado that damaged eight houses in the coastal town of Rahotu.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Wind toppled trees and powerlines and from South Taranaki across to Whanganui,12,000 people were without electricity.

Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh was unable to predict when power would be restored. He said working conditions were difficult, and the 13,000 lightning strikes may have damaged equipment.

The central plateau had a tornado in National Park Village and was predicted to get nearly twice as much rain as coastal Whanganui. Rivers and streams were rising fast.

Snow was predicted for the Desert Road, and the New Zealand Transport Agency warned people to expect wintry conditions.

Discover more

New Zealand

Residents in shock as homes destroyed by tornado that rips through National Park

09 Apr 10:40 PM
New Zealand

Roof ripped off by National Park twister

10 Apr 01:14 AM

Read more: Whanganui weather forecast

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

Ngāti Ruanui files urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim over mining project

02 Jul 10:42 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

02 Jul 09:14 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

02 Jul 06:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Ngāti Ruanui files urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim over mining project

Ngāti Ruanui files urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim over mining project

02 Jul 10:42 PM

The claim alleges breaches of Treaty principles in fast-track approvals process.

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

02 Jul 09:14 PM
How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

02 Jul 06:00 PM
Rangitīkei fencer regains Golden Pliers title

Rangitīkei fencer regains Golden Pliers title

02 Jul 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP