Rain from storm but no damage from weather bomb in Northland

Whangarei couple Paul Mepham and Mirian Varnes stroll along a partially-flooded walkway along Riverside Dr during high tide. PHOTO/IMRAN ALI

Some areas in Northland received a deluge — almost 80mm in places — but there was no major flooding or damage from the expected weather bomb.

After the storm predicted to hit Northland hard during the day yesterday turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, forecasters said the worst of the weather could hit last evening and this morning.In Moerewa, downed tree branches cut power to 143 homes for about an hour. Top Energy spokeswoman Philippa White said the company's vegetation crew cleared the lines before power was restored around midday.Heavy rain across the Mid-North yesterday contributed to several minor crashes.

They included an accident about 8.30am on Inlet Rd, Kerikeri, in which a Mitsubishi hatchback rolled and came to rest on its side blocking one lane. The sole occupant was assessed at the scene by St John Ambulance.

The cruise ship Seabourne Encore, which had been due to call in to Paihia yesterday with just over 600 passengers on board, cancelled its visit due to the weather and sailed directly to Auckland instead.

An upturned kayak found drifting off the southern end of Paihia Beach about 10am yesterday sparked concerns the paddler could have fallen out, but the kayak was found to have been washed off its mooring by the unusually high tide.

The combination of heavy rain and a king tide, peaking at 2.7m just after 10am, caused surface flooding in some areas but no major problems at edition time yesterday.

At the Whangarei Town Basin, yacht mooring walkways were inundated with water after the high tide at 10.30am and parts of the Hatea Loop walking track had surface flooding.

Whangarei Marina assistant manager Sharron Beck said yachties had to wade through a couple of inches of water to get to and from their yachts.

"It happens occasionally. It's more an inconvenience more than anything. A lot of yachties at this time are out sailing but they've come back to shelter from the winds."

The heaviest rain, from Northland Regional Council figures, fell at Touwai, near Whangaroa Harbour, where 78.5mm was recorded in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday. High rainfall was also recorded at Kerikeri's Wiroa Rd (58.5mm), Ohaeawai (55mm) and Kaeo (46.5mm). Whangarei recorded only 11.8mm in the same period. More big tides are expected today.