A region-wide state of emergency has been declared for Southland following heavy rain and flooding.
Homes in Queenstown have been evacuated and the failure of a water treatment plant at Tuatapere has left the remote town with eight hours’ drinking water.
Landslides and high floodwaters threatened some Queenstown homes and some residents had to be rescued from their cars.
Emergency Management Southland said at 7.30pm the plant at Tuatapere had been inundated by floodwaters and had stopped working.
“Residents are advised to conserve water urgently. They can do this by not taking showers, washing dishes or flushing the toilet. The treatment plant cannot be repaired until the water recedes.
“Southland District Council is sending three water tankers to Tuatapere to provide drinking water until the plant can be repaired.”
Powernet is reporting widespread electricity outages across Southland and said it hoped to restore power by 10pm to most customers.
Fire and Emergency crews were called to a landslide behind a property in Reavers Lane, Queenstown at 7.33pm.
The occupants of four homes were advised by the crews that they should consider self-evacuating as a precaution and heeded advice.
Earlier, Emergency Management Southland group controller Simon Mapp encouraged everyone to avoid contact with the floodwaters as wastewater and stormwater systems across Southland towns struggled to cope with volumes.
“We would encourage people to stay home and off the roads as surface flooding is impacting both town and rural roads. Not all roads affected by flooding will be signposted, so extreme caution is needed,” Mapp said.
Community emergency hubs have been opened at the Croydon Lodge in Gore and the Mataura Community Centre. Anyone with welfare concerns can call the EMS emergency co-ordination centre on (03) 211 5225.
Fire and Emergency staff were called to a home in Fernhill after reports a landslide was threatening it at 7.51pm. Upon arrival, they found the residents had evacuated and there was extensive flooding around the home.
Another crew was sent to Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd at 7.13pm after a landslide fell, trapping a car. One person was rescued and was uninjured.
School holidays could not have come at a better time for St Peter’s College students as their school is completely under water. The school posted photos on their Facebook page of the school hall and classrooms with the floor covered in flood water.
Police have rescued two people from a car stuck in flood water on Gore Mataura Highway, between Jubilee Ave and Given Rd.
Gore District Mayor Ben Bell declared a state of emergency for the region this afternoon.
Bell said about 72mm of rain fell this morning, causing “significant surface flooding”.
In Gore and Mataura, the stormwater and wastewater network has been overwhelmed and water is threatening homes. No one has had to be evacuated but Bell urged people to stay inside and avoid travel.
🌧With heavy rain falling across the lower part of the South Island and likely to move north over the next couple of days, put safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water. pic.twitter.com/Bvzas3CwzQ
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) September 21, 2023
Council staff were protecting property with sandbags or by pumping water.
”However, this is a time-consuming process, so we ask people to be patient and kind,” Bell said.
He advised people to monitor their radios and the council’s Facebook page and website for updates.
⚠️ Flooding is occurring in Gore, Southland...
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 21, 2023
Gore has recorded over a month's worth of rain in less than 12 hours today (66 mm).
Moderate-to-heavy rain will continue this afternoon before easing overnight. pic.twitter.com/aTTQxKYZlm
Mapp also urged people against walking through floodwaters.
”There could be debris and uneven surfaces that can’t be seen, and the water may be contaminated.”
🌧🌧🌧
— MetService (@MetService) September 21, 2023
Parts of Southland have seen more than 70 mm of rain today with more expected - the Heavy Rain Warning goes 5pm this afternoon🟠
That rain band continues into Otago this afternoon and evening - the Heavy Watch goes to 11:59pm tonight🟡 pic.twitter.com/9pc3cVb7UZ
The active front moving northwards up the South Island continues to wreak havoc, with 14 severe weather warnings and watches in place.
Westland, Fiordland, Southland, Canterbury and Otago can expect up to 300mm of rain, on top of what has already fallen through the night.
MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor says rainfall totals in Fiordland have exceeded 100mm of rain in 12 hours.
❄❄Heavy Snow
— MetService (@MetService) September 20, 2023
Snow Warnings have been issued for inland Canterbury to the Mackenzie Country
The heaviest snow amounts are expected above 400 metres, with snow possible to 100 metres on Fri and Sat (4/5) pic.twitter.com/vHV0f7H3yu
Meanwhile, Canterbury and northern Otago farmers in the middle of lambing and calving season have been warned of significant snow tonight, with accumulations of around 10cm above 200m, and 20-40cm for areas above 400m.
”The snow level could be as low as 300m in Otago and down to 200m over the Canterbury Plains. This is a significant event, and particularly impactful for the rural community given the time of the year,” O’Connor said.
Temperatures around these areas will plummet in line with the snow and will be particularly noticeable because of the balmy temperatures of late in the east of the South Island.
Rainfall forecast on the left. Possible impacts:
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 20, 2023
💧 Flooding
💧 Landslips
💧 Poor driving conditions
Snowfall forecast on the right. Possible impacts:
❄️ Tree damage (weight of snow)
❄️ Power cuts (weight of snow)
❄️ Poor driving/travel disruption
❄️ Stress to livestock pic.twitter.com/W0p6H0XYi6
In South Canterbury, Fairlie hit 25C at midday yesterday but can only expect to reach 10C tomorrow. Similarly, Alexandra reached 24C but will get a daytime high of 11C tomorrow and just 2C overnight into Saturday.
“These colder temperatures will cause the snow to stick around, and travel disruptions are expected in the alpine passes not only during the event, but for the days following also,” O’Connor said.
MetService says many Kiwis will be travelling for the school holidays and urges everyone to stay up to date with the latest weather watches and warnings, along with road information from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.
Big temperature drop coming to the South Island.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 20, 2023
🔴 ➡️ 🔵
This will have big impacts on not only precipitation type 💧❄️ , but also on livestock (lambs and calves). pic.twitter.com/z6z0rHRql2
Additionally, strong wind warnings are in effect for the Canterbury high country and Otago until this evening, as severe galeforce northwesterlies bring damaging gusts of up to 140km/h in exposed places.
According to MetService, 2501 lightning strikes had been reported over the South Island since 4pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, in the North Island, weather conditions are scorching in some areas.
Wairoa in Hawke’s Bay recorded New Zealand’s third-highest September temperature on record at 29.6C.
It smashed the previous North Island record of 27.7C in Hastings in September 1955. Gisborne also set a September record today, reaching 27.1C.
We can confirm that New Zealand experienced its 3rd highest September temperature on record today: 29.6˚C, observed in Wairoa, Hawke's Bay.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 21, 2023
This is a new record for the North Island, smashing the old record of 27.7˚C (Hastings, 1955).
Gisborne also set a September record today. pic.twitter.com/R18W6RInLt
Auckland also experienced its second-equal warmest September day on record, reaching 22C.
But after welcoming hot temperatures for the first time in months, the North Island is set to take a turn for the worse, as school holidays are forecast to kick off on a wet and wintry note.
MetService has already issued heavy rain watches for Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Ranges, beginning on Saturday, with additional watches and warnings expected further north over the coming days.
Auckland is likely to cop the worst of the front on Saturday, with heavy rain expected.
“The heaviest rain is expected in the second half of Saturday and Sunday morning, likely disrupting travel on what will no doubt be a busy weekend on the roads,” O’Connor said.
She says significant and widespread impacts are possible for the North Island.
By Sunday night, the front moves to the northeast of the North Island and becomes slow-moving.
- with RNZ and ODT
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