Another severe weather watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua. Photo / Alex Cairns
The Bay of Plenty is bracing for heavy rain, with parts of the region still “fragile” and recovering from last month’s deadly and disruptive summer storms.
The region’s councils and Civil Defence say they are monitoring the situation and making preparations, with residents advised to take precautions – especially if they have concerns about landslides.
MetService has issued an 11-hour heavy rain watch, with a chance of thunderstorms and localised downpours, for the Bay of Plenty from Ōpōtiki westwards, from 2pm on Friday until 1am Saturday.
Downpours could bring 25-40mm of rain an hour.
The worst of the weather is expected to hit further east, with a 14-hour MetService orange heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki, and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ūawa/Tolaga Bay, in place from 8pm on Friday.
“Expect 80 to 100mm of rain to accumulate, with the chance of 130 to 150mm in one or two places. Peak rainfall rates are very dependent on localised convection or thunderstorms, and may reach 25 to 35mm per hour during Saturday morning,” MetService said.
A statement from Bay of Plenty Civil Defence said the region was still feeling the impacts of Tropical Low 05F – the weather system that brought 200mm of rain in the 24 hours before the fatal January 22 landslides in Mount Maunganui and rural Pāpāmoa.
Two died when a slip hit a home on Welcome Bay Rd, and six campers died in a slip from Mauao into the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.
Several other slips affected private properties and public land around Tauranga and Western Bay.
Tauranga City Council said Adams Ave, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Rd roundabout, would be temporarily closed to vehicles from 8am Friday as a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao from anticipated rainfall from Friday to Saturday.
The footpath on the ‘shop side’ of Adams Ave will remain open.
“Whilst no definite timeframe can be given for the duration of the closure, it is temporary,” the council said.
“The road will not be opened until the rain event has passed and we have expert advice regarding the safety of the area.”
Civil Defence encouraged anyone concerned about the risk of a landslide on their property to contact their local council for advice.
Conversations with local controllers and partner agencies such as police and Fire and Emergency were ongoing regarding landslide-prone areas.
“We are now in the recovery phase following the heavy rain event in January, and some internal debriefs have taken place, with more planned, as is standard protocol.”
They advised the community to check and clear their drains and gutters in preparation for the incoming rain.
“Always take care if you’re out and about, as there may be surface flooding, further landslides, and/or difficult driving conditions.”
Streams and rivers could rise rapidly, so people were advised to avoid low-lying areas, put safety first and not take any chances.
“If you feel unsafe in your home due to landslip risk or rising water, keep a grab bag close and be prepared to evacuate.”
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s emergency management team lead, Jo Lynskey, said some of the district’s roading networks were still fragile.
“If we get heavy rain, it is likely there will be further slips which may close roads.
“We are doing our usual pre-rain checks. Our transportation team is inspecting key roading sites, and we will have essential contractors, such as arborists, on standby.”
She said the Western Bay of Plenty district still had an elevated risk of instability, mainly where there were pre-existing slips.
“In heavy rain, these areas might experience additional erosion and movement of unstable debris.
“There may also be areas where the ground has not slipped but is cracked or damaged and may be sensitive to additional rainfall.”
People in the community who were still dealing with the effects of last month’s severe weather event would still be feeling anxious, Lynskey said.
Her advice mirrored that of other councils.
“Charge your phone and any other communications devices, and keep an eye on MetService New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Facebook pages for the latest weather information.”
A spokesperson for the Tauranga City Council said it was closely monitoring the weather and would be ready to respond if needed.
Geotechnical assessments continued for the 40 landslips on Mauao, 29 of them being on the base track.
Recent monitoring and inspections had identified instability on sections of the maunga, including areas where the risk of rockfall and landslip had increased.
Council recovery manager Paula Naude said the whole area continued to be monitored by engineers.
“Further information, especially following the next heavy rainfall, may help give greater confidence in determining the likelihood of a slip,” Naude said.
Mauao remained closed.
Naude said while people were encouraged to visit Mount Maunganui and support local businesses, they should “respect the no-go zones, fencing, signage and on-site instructions”.
Rotorua – which was spared the worst of the January storm but had an intense thunderstorm on Wednesday evening – is included in the watch, and Rotorua Lakes Council staff will be on standby to respond if predictions change.
Rotorua civil defence controller Stavros Michael said council staff and contractors were monitoring the situation.
“We are taking the usual precautions, including checking critical stormwater systems.”
A statement from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said it was closely monitoring the weather system and receiving regular updates from MetService.
The NZTA system manager for maintenance and operations, Sandra King, said this evening convoys through State Highway 2 Waioweka Gorge, between Ōpōtiki and Tairāwhiti, were cancelled due to the orange heavy rain warning.
One lane of the highway opened this week after three weeks of work to start clearing massive slips at 40 sites.
Four convoys were to run on Friday until 1pm, before the road was closed through the weekend.
SH35 was closed from Pōtaka at Lottin Point Rd south to the Mangaowira Stream bridge.
“People should only travel if they must and be prepared for the road to close at short notice if weather conditions or risk assessments change,” King said.
“With further bad weather on the way, it’s important people slow down, be patient and drive with care and to the conditions.”
The route would be reassessed on Monday before any decision on reopening one lane for convoys.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.