Rain gauges closely watched as cyclone tail hits

Napier has had a steady soaking from the remnants of former Cyclone Debbie. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

Heavy rain continued to sweep through the region as Hawke's Bay residents felt the remnants of Cyclone Debbie yesterday.

MetService issued rain and wind warnings spanning the North Island and the upper South Island, with 82mm of rain expected to fall across Napier, while Hastings braced itself for 66mm.

The downfall was also consistent in Upper Norsewood where Lyn McConchie's rain gauge recorded 58mm between 6.30am on Monday morning and noon yesterday. Ms McConchie said the rain began with a light drizzle on Monday morning before falling steadily throughout the following 24 hours.

"It started spitting at about 6.30am yesterday morning, but it gradually picked up by lunchtime and has been consistent since," she said.

Waipukurau residents also felt the remainder of the tropical storm.

Gayle Dean said there was a steady downfall throughout the night, recording 30mm by 7.30am yesterday morning.

Meanwhile Civil Defence closely monitored the developing storm throughout the North Island, which threatened widespread flooding.

Yesterday afternoon mayor Craig Little said Wairoa was coping with the heavy downfall.

"Everything's coping as it should do at the moment but I think we're about to meet saturation levels," he said.

"The Civil Defence guys are on top of it, so we're keeping an eye on it at the moment."

Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui and the Tararua Ranges were the first to experience the downpour.

MetService warned those areas would experience intense rain for a day and a half.