May is wetter than March and April

The first half of May has been nearly as wet in Wanganui as the whole of March and April put together.

In the first 15 days of May, 57.6mm of rain fell. The average for May is 71.5mm.

This contrasts sharply with the previous two months. Wanganui received only 36mm of rain in March and just 26mm in April, a total of 62mm.

By April, Wanganui was so dry the fire risk was raised to high and a restricted fire season was introduced.

If Wanganui's rainy May continues it will almost certainly be wetter than last May, when 81mm fell.

As of 5pm yesterday, the Whanganui River at Pipiriki was at 1.84 metres and falling, and the Whangaehu River at Kauangaroa at 2.31m and steady.

Kauarapoa Rd was expected to remain closed for another 24 hours, Wanganui District Council said.

Meanwhile, with heavy rain expected overnight in the Fields Track, Whangaehu Valley Rd, and Whanganui River Rd area, further slips were anticipated.