Heavy rain warning and wind watch for Tairāwhiti this week

Gisborne enjoyed a sunny long weekend but that is set to come to an end for parts of the region with the onset of a weather system which will bring heavy rain and potentially strong winds. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin

Inland parts of Tairāwhiti are likely to experience a bout of heavy wind and rain later this week, bringing an end to the sunny period enjoyed over the weekend.

MetService issued an orange heavy rain warning and a yellow wind watch for inland parts of Tairāwhiti on Tuesday morning.

The heavy rain warning spans 10 hours, from 8pm Wednesday to 6am Thursday, and covers the Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne and inland Gisborne/Tairāwhiti.

“Expect 120 to 150mm of rain,” forecasters said.

“Intensities may reach 25 to 35mm per hour, especially during Thursday morning.

“There is a low chance of it upgrading to a red warning.“

The strong wind watch runs from 9pm on Wednesday to 9am Thursday.

“Northerly winds may reach gale force, with gusts approaching warning criteria. Moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.”

A MetService statement said the broad area of rain and wind moving across the country from west to east was the result of a rapidly deepening area of low pressure forming off the eastern coast of Australia and crossing the country.

“This week we see another visitor arriving from the Tasman Sea and it’s set to bring some active weather with it, but it’s not just the wind and rain we have to watch out for, with cold air rushing in behind this system it’s going to be a much colder end to the week,” MetService meteorologist John Law said.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence advised people to clean drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas, drive cautiously and take care on roads.