Why National’s gang plan could be easier said than done, we brace for more wild weather and what was on Australia’s agenda in a meeting with China in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
Wellington's coastline is being blasted by massive swells as the capital continues to endure wind, rain and thunderstorms.
Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office (WREMO) is warning of heavy swells through until 2am Tuesday for Kapiti to Porirua Coast (Otaki to Cape Terawhiti).
Photos of Marine Parade in Paekakariki show motoristsbraving huge waves crashing across the road, and a sea of foam is coating State Highway 59 near Pukerua Bay after huge swells created by the storm hit the region overnight.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regional manager Mark Owen told the Herald the weather had caused a few issues in the last 24 hours and anyone who has to travel should ensure they check the conditions before they leave.
"We're advising people take extra care when they travel, we have State Highway 53 closed between Featherston and Martinborough due to high river level and in Kapiti we've got wind bringing sea foam up on to the road, so if you are travelling in that area please just take extra care ."
Motorists and pedestrians braving huge waves created by by the storm as they negotiate their way along Marine Parade in Paekakariki. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Horowhenua residents are being urged to stay indoors as overnight thunderstorms have caused flooding across the region.
Foxton and Foxton Beach are the most impacted with surface flooding across the Manawatū Marine Boating Club car park, which is inundating Hartley St.
Civil Defence Emergency Management is monitoring the situation, with contractors, Council staff and Fire and Emergency on the ground to offer support.
It comes as Wellington battens down the hatches against three severe weather warnings - two for rain and one for wind.
The wind warning began on Sunday night and will last through to Monday night, bringing strong gusts capable of bringing down trees and powerlines. This warning is in place for Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and south of Featherston.
⛈ WEATHER WARNINGS & IMPACTS ⛈
⚠️ WEATHER WARNINGS ⚠️
🌊 HEAVY SWELL WARNING remains in place until 2am Tuesday for...
Rain could also cause slips and flooding, with Horowhenua and Wellington set to get between 70 and 80mm of rain the 24 hours from Sunday night.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker told the Herald there were around 140 calls to the council over the weekend related to flooding, or downed trees.
"If it wasn't for Fire and Emergency Services we would have lost more houses."
She says although the rain is still falling in Porirua, it is easing slightly - but that's no reason to relax, as it's not forecast to stop until tomorrow.
Grays Rd has closed, as has Paekakariki Hill Road.
The Tararua Ranges will also be drenched with 80 to 90mm of rain forecast to accumulate over the 24 hours from Sunday. At peak rates this could be falling at 10 to 25mm an hour.
This could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly.
In Feilding, the council has been forced to close the Makino Floodgates following heavy rain.
Horizons emergency management controller Craig Grant says there is another band of rain to come through before sunrise and we expect some local rain relief for a while.
"We are working with Manawatu District Council to manage the situation," says Grant.
This could be accompanied by severe thunderstorms and even a slight chance of localised tornadoes - like the ones which have torn through Waikanae recently.
The clean-up underway on a property hit by a tornado on Barrett Drive, Waikanae Beach. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Two small tornadoes reportedly stormed through Waikanae Beach, Kāpiti Coast, on Sunday evening, with posts on social media suggest windows and doors have been blown in, with uprooted trees and damaged cars.
🌩 Has it felt particularly stormy the last week? 🌩
⚡ 111,621 strikes from midnight last monday to 7am this morning!
Still more thunderstorms on the way today: bit.ly/TSOutlook bit.ly/STSWatch
