Weather: Wairoa River levels in Hawke’s Bay peak following heavy rainfall

Hawke’s Bay’s Wairoa River levels have peaked this morning but are slowly beginning to drop after heavy rainfall in the area.

Hawke’s Bay regional council said Pukeorapa saw 185mm of rain in the past 24 hours while Marumaru saw 130mm.

The council said the rainfall This resulted in higher river levels in the Mangapoike Stream which in turn pushed water through to the Wairoa River.

“The water levels in the Wairoa area are beginning to drop.”

UPDATE 9:30am: Wairoa River levels dropping rapidly now with outgoing tide and rain easing off. The Rain Warning from...

Posted by Hawke's Bay Regional Council on Saturday, November 25, 2023

“However, the rain warning from MetService has been extended to 11am as a band of rain is expected around 9am before easing significantly late morning.”

Meanwhile, a person has died and another has been injured after a car crashed into slip south of Wairoa.

The road is blocked completely between The Crescent and Kiwi Valley Rd.

“Work is under way to partially clear the slip so that one lane can be opened,” a police spokesperson said.

ROADING UPDATE - SUN 26 NOV 10AM SH2 south CLOSED from 287 Cafe to Napier Awamate Road - NOW OPEN Tiniroto Road -...

Posted by Wairoa District Council on Saturday, November 25, 2023

Residents in Te Karaka, inland from Gisborne in Tairāwhiti were told to evacuate as the Waipaoa River levels crept up.

At about 6am on Sunday Tairāwhiti Civil Defence said the Waipaoa River level was creeping up to 7m.

Anyone in a low-lying area or anyone who felt unsafe should evacuate now, taking their whānau with them as well as pets and pet food supplies, they said.

Metservice has extended the Heavy Rain Warning for Gisborne and the Wairoa District until 11am this morning. Another 30-40mm of rain can be expected to add to already substantial totals over the past 2 days. More details at https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/xAOHj8vDwc

— MetService (@MetService) November 25, 2023

Everyone else in the area should be prepared to evacuate if the river level reaches 7.5m.

“Tairāwhiti Emergency Management and Māhaki Tiaki Tangata are closely watching the levels. We will update people as the situation changes,” Tairāwhiti Civil Defence posted.

Te Karaka Area School had been opened for anyone who needed somewhere to go and as the headquarters for iwi response team Mahaki Tiaki Tangata.

A MetService heavy rain warning was extended until late Sunday morning for Tairāwhiti-Gisborne and the Wairoa District of Hawke’s Bay.

“The rain may ease for a time between 7am and 9am then increase again before easing significantly late morning,” forecasters said.

The high rainfall could cause flooding and slips and driving conditions could be hazardous, while waterways could rise rapidly, MetService warned.

The heavy rain and rain warning began on Friday, and up to 180mm had been forecast to fall in that time for some areas.

However the region was vulnerable as it was already saturated, with significant downpours just two weeks ago.

Overnight between Saturday and Sunday the Waipaoa River fell a little before rising again as the rain came back in, Tairāwhiti Civil Defence said.

- with RNZ