Bay of Plenty and Rotorua weather: Heavy rain warning extended to midnight

A heavy rain warning has been extended for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.

A tropically-fulled disturbance is bringing heavy downpours and possible thunderstorms to the region with the Orange MetService heavy rain warning extended through to midnight tonight.

MetService said another 60 to 90 mm of rain could accumulate on top of what has already fallen.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Flood Room was “actively monitoring the situation”.

“We are providing real-time information and data to supporting agencies, such as local councils and Waka Kotahi, to assist with their planning and responding to their communities,” the council’s engineering manager, Mark Townsend, said.

“Our operations team on the ground are out checking flood defences including stopbanks, floodgates, pump stations and drains and will continue to monitor and respond to the impact of significant rainfall across the Bay of Plenty.”

A couple brave the bad weather at Sulphur Point in Tauranga on Friday. Photo / Alex Cairns

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said the highest rainfall in Bay of Plenty this morning was recorded at TECT All Terrain Park between Rotorua and Tauranga where 29.8mm had fallen between 2am and 8am.

Rotorua Airport recorded 17.4mm and Tauranga 14.6mm and 23mm in the ranges near Waihi in the same period.

Authorities warn residents to be prepared

Rotorua and Tauranga councils are monitoring weather forecasts and taking usual precautions for heavy rain.

Rotorua Lakes Council said staff would be checking critical stormwater inlets were clear, ensuring wastewater treatment storage ponds were as empty as possible and that plant systems, including back-up provisions, were operating.

Utuhina Stream runs brown in Rotorua during heavy rain on Friday. Photo / Andrew Warner

The council said residents should check their drains at home and clear debris. They should also have an emergency preparedness plan and ensure everyone in the household was aware of it.

In preparation for localised or surface flooding, sandbags could be bought from local hardware stores.

A Tauranga City Council spokesperson said staff were monitoring the weather and ready to respond if needed.

“Right now we are carrying out all our usual checks for when there’s significant rain on the radar.

“If residents need to report an issue they can call our contact centre 24/7 on 07 577 7000.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council team lead emergency management Jo Lynskey said it was carrying out usual pre-weather checks, had staff on call, and had alerted community response teams and other local partners.

“Our roading contractors are checking any high-risk areas for blocked culverts, and we have arborists and Geotech on standby, should we need them.”

Lynskey said a particular focus was the council’s earth dam at Waihī Beach, “which acts as a stormwater retention dam to help alleviate flooding along One Mile Creek”.

The dam had been drained to its low level after the recent rain and was ready for any potential flooding.

MetService said streams and rivers might rise rapidly and surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions were possible.

Heavy rain watches in force for parts of the NZ

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Auckland and Northland overnight, with local flooding expected in parts.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said there is a low pressure system to the west of the country that was not going away.

“It is going to be bringing bands of rain over the next few days while it’s around,” she said.

Heavy rain watches were in force for Auckland, including Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula until 1pm.

A heavy rain watch is in effect for Taupō until 9pm.

Makgabutlane said places under heavy rain watches could have localised pockets of heavier rain.

Niwa said: “Two disturbances in the Tasman Sea will drag tropical moisture into New Zealand from Friday into next week.

“The combined system will produce rounds of heavy rainfall, particularly in the northern and eastern South Island, possibly swirling in the Tasman for up to a week.”

MetService meteorologist John Law said the heavy rain and possible thunderstorms would also likely bring windy conditions, “especially overnight, Thursday into Friday, into the northern areas”.

For the South Island, heavy rain is forecast for Tasman from 6pm, lasting 24 hours.

Expect 120-150mm of rain to accumulate and peak rates of 15-25mm/h.

MetService said there is a chance streams and rivers may rise rapidly, and surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions are possible.