West Coast residents are being told to prepare for flooding and to be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
The region’s emergency management team issued the warning as thunderstorms packed with rain continued for the second consecutive day.
Meanwhile in
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) urged people to drive to the conditions, especially those in high-sided vehicles and motorcycles - who the NZTA has advised to avoid the bridge and use State Highway 16 and 18 instead.
SH1 AKL HBR BRIDGE - WIND WARNING
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 11, 2024
Strong wind gusts are predicted today & tonight. Temporary reduced speeds & lane reductions may be required, with lane layout staying in 4x4 during peak periods. Caution is advised for motorcycles & trucks: https://t.co/umxPlhXQA0 ^TP pic.twitter.com/ui7c2t9Vjj
In a Facebook post this morning, residents were told to prepare to act quickly, with flash flooding often happening quickly and without warning.
“We’re sure you’re aware that we are expecting to have a significant amount of rain today so it’s wise to be ready.
“Be prepared to evacuate and keep your grab bag close.”
Civil Defence also advised people to move valuable and dangerous items up high and along with sandbagging property, were also urged to secure outdoor items to avoid being washed away in floodwaters.
A swathe of heavy rain and strong wind alerts has been issued for the top of the North Island with thunderstorms and gales set to batter regions.
Auckland, Northland and Coromandel are under a strong wind watch which will last two days.
MetService has also issued heavy rain warnings and watches for Northland and Coromandel, which are expected to see up to 120mm of rain in the coming hours.
NZTA is warning Northland motorists to take care on roads as the thunderstorms start to lash the region.
Heavy rain & thunderstorms are predicted across Northland this evening and tomorrow, with forecast downfalls significant. Slips, flooding, & fallen trees are possible. Please be prepared & remember to check our Journeys Highway Map before travel: https://t.co/uiVQYdFduc ^TP pic.twitter.com/JDv2Ddkk8t
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 10, 2024
Coromandel residents are being warned that a severe thunderstorm watch will be issued for the region.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence is on high alert for evacuations and sandbags are being placed around homes in the West Coast districts as heavy rain continues to fall on sodden ground.
Power cuts, landslides and road closures struck around the West Coast yesterday, with more than 500mm of rainfall recorded in 24 hours in places. MetService-issued weather warnings will last until Friday.
Downpours continued last night, with the West Coast Emergency Management group staffing its emergency operations centre continually to keep local communities up to date.
Locals are being warned by MetService to expect a further 150 to 200 mm of rain to fall in mountainous regions and 50 to 100 mm closer to the coast.
Downpours continued last night, with the West Coast Emergency Management group staffing its emergency operations centre continually to keep local communities up to date.
The extreme weather has left the Westland District Council to place a precautionary boil water notice for residents in the township of Franz Josef.
Meanwhile, Fire and Emergency West Coast is urging residents to prepare for power cuts as the heavy rain continues to batter the region.
“Heavy rain doesn’t just cause flooding - often it can lead to power cuts. Now’s a good time to fish out your torch and check the batteries so you’re not stumbling around in the dark tonight,” a Fire and Emergency West Coast Facebook post said.
The Department of Conservation has closed Hokitika Gorge’s walking tracks because of extreme weather.
Westland District Mayor Helen Lash told RNZ the later morning hours were “crunch time” as the high tide coincides with heavy rainfall.
An extra 100mm of rain is expected to fall on already-sodden grounds, causing fears of runoff and surface flooding.
Lash said there is a “massive” Civil Defence presence. They are assisting residents with sandbagging and are on high alert for evacuations if required later today.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told RNZ that river levels will rise during the next wave of heavy rain.
”We’re expecting more than 100mm of rain along that West Coast and slowly tracking to other parts of the South Island,” Makgabutlane said.
She said the atmospheric river was “evolving” but was behaving as expected.
Thursday's emojicast:
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) April 10, 2024
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Meteorologists will assess the rainfall overnight before deciding if any of the eight orange rainfall warnings will be elevated to red.
Makgabutlane said snow was possible tomorrow in mountainous regions as the temperatures switch drastically from today’s warmer weather.
Snow is expected to fall on the Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd tonight, prompting road snowfall warnings beginning at 1am on Friday.
Four to 8cm of snow may settle on the road above 800m on Milford Rd and 2-4cm above 700m on the Crown Range Rd.
In addition to the windy and wet weather, cold air brings the risk of snow to some of the higher roads of the South Island.
— MetService (@MetService) April 10, 2024
It's a busy week of weather! pic.twitter.com/u6Iv5r00zs
Lash said it’s been a “very windy night”.
“It’s a little bit concerning,” the Westland Mayor told RNZ.
Heavy rain warnings are in place for Mount Taranaki, Tasman northwest of Motueka, Westland south of Hokitika, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur’s Pass, the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers, Fiordland, Southland, the Bryant Range, Buller south of Seddonville and northwest of Reefton.
Strong wind watches are in place for Taranaki south of the mountain, Taihape and the Whanganui Hill Country, Buller, Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough Wellington and the Canterbury High Country.
The heavy rain will shift north today, hitting the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions in particular, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said.
More than 400mm of rain could fall over the Tasman District throughout today, prompting Niwa to warn of flash flooding from quickly rising rivers. The Department of Conservation has cancelled hut bookings on trails in the area and issued alerts to trampers.
A king tide would coincide with a high swell around the Golden Bay and Tasman, posing a threat of flooding around the coast and erosion.
Eighteen heavy rain and strong wind watches and warnings were in place around the country, with most of the South Island on alert.
❗On Thursday, the focus for heavy rainfall shifts northward to Tasman, Nelson, and western Marlborough pic.twitter.com/jjR8PMrs7I
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) April 10, 2024
A heavy rain watch will come into force in Northland from 6pm today and last until 6am tomorrow. Taranaki is under a strong wind watch from 3pm until 6am tomorrow, as is Wellington from 6pm until 6am tomorrow.
MetService forecast scattered rain in Auckland developing this morning and becoming widespread late evening. MetService also said strong northeasterlies could gust to 90km/h in the evening.
Rain should remain in Auckland into Friday, with heavy falls easing to a few showers in the evening and northerlies turning lighter in the afternoon. From Saturday, the outlook is fine.
As well as shifting north, the West Coast’s rain was also tipped to move east towards Otago and Canterbury.
🌧️ The past 24hrs have brought significant rain to the West Coast, causing slips & road closures. One of our high elevation gauges has already recorded over half a metre of rain!
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) April 10, 2024
💧Rain will continue overnight and Thur, the heaviest rain is expected in the West Coast and upper SI pic.twitter.com/ybppchNxan
Christchurch should see today start with a few spots of rain, before it becomes more persistent in the evening, MetService said. Friday, which would see a dramatic dip in high temperatures from 23C the day before to 15C, would see rain clear in the afternoon.
Dunedin will see occasional rain this morning become persistent in the afternoon with increasing low cloud. Rain should clear through Friday afternoon, but temperatures will also drop from 19C today to 11C tomorrow.
Yesterday, State Highway 6 between Fox Glacier and Franz Josef closed due to a slip overnight on Tuesday.
West Coast Fire and Emergency announced it has back-up from other regions to help manage the extreme weather.
🟠Latest Severe Weather🟡
— MetService (@MetService) April 9, 2024
The western South Island remains under an Orange Rain Warning until Thu evening
Some Heavy Rain Watch areas have now been upgraded to Orange Warnings, while new Watch areas have been added for both rain and wind pic.twitter.com/cXRtS5Sz3w
“Our home team is always ready to support our communities and we’ve also brought some additional resources from Canterbury to Westland to lend a hand,” a West Coast Fire and Emergency Facebook post said.
West Coast Emergency Management earlier warned residents in Haast could face several days without power, as several power poles were down amid the storm.
Westland District Council made sandbags available to businesses and residents in areas of Hokitika identified as likely to be worst affected by surface flooding and cars causing “bow waves”.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.
Much of the South Island is set to plunge below 0C tonight and tomorrow.