Weather: Orange warning still in place for Bay of Plenty

Rotorua has beat its average rainfall for October in one day as the region continues to get drenched.

MetService said the orange warning for areas east of Whakatāne and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria was in place until 11pm today while the warnings were due to be lifted for western areas of Bay of Plenty around 1pm.

A further 70 to 120mm of rain could fall east of Whakatāne today.

In an update this afternoon, MetService said Rotorua had recieved 95.7mm in the 24 hours to 1pm.

The October average rainfall for the city is 93mm.

Whakatāne has had 55.4mm, close to twice what they had in all of September, the agency said.

Tauranga has received 54.5mm.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesman, Pete Hennessey, said the council’s flood team had been monitoring river levels over night.

“Kaituna river has reached a level one warning and the team are expecting the Whakatāne to reach a level one warning also.

“At this stage they are not expecting either river to reach level two warning.”

A first warning level meant the river level had reached its normal channel capacity, Hennessey said.

“A second warning level means the river has overtopped the channel banks and has flooded the area next to river. This is still well within the flood defences around the river such as a stopbank or floodway.”

Rainfall amounts

Oropi in the Bay of Plenty recorded 83.8mm during the last 24 hours with the highest wind gust recorded at Rotorua Airport was 74km/h at 6am.

The highest rainfall recorded in the Coromandel was 115mm at the Pinnacles during the same period.

The highest wind gust was 104km/h at Great Mercury Island at 2am.

Rotorua Lakes Council said 50mm of rain had fallen since midnight in the city with another 40mm forecast to fall between now and 1pm.

Contractors had responded to fallen trees on Waikite Valley Rd and Te Ngae Rd this morning as well as flooding between the railway tracks and the lake near Taui St, and on Apirana Rd, State Highway 30, Edmund Rd, Gordon Rd, Lichenstein Rd and Robinson Ave.

More than 100 properties in Whitianga have been left without power after wind has caused trees to fall on power lines.

The township of Ferry Landing has 103 properties affected, with restoration estimated for 10am.

MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow said most northern and western areas were forecast to be out of the rain by this afternoon.

“The rain would probably hang on for a bit longer for eastern places of the North Island until evening.”

Road warning

Police are advising motorists to be aware of the weather warnings, and to take caution on the roads.

Police said in a statement parts of the Bay of Plenty area were experiencing extreme weather conditions, with heavy rain and reports of surface flooding.

“Please limit yourself to essential travel only and allow for extra time for your journey. Reducing speed, using headlights and windscreen wipers, and watching your visibility will also ensure a safe trip.

“Please take extra care on our road.”