New Zealand: Massive Storms bring heavy rain, fierce floods to North Island

[-Pastor-Dale-Morgan-]

Perilous Times and Climate Change

New Zealand: Massive Storms bring heavy rain, fierce floods to North Island

Published: 7:17AM Monday March 19, 2012

Source: ONE News - TVNZ


Several people have been rescued from rising flood waters in Northland today.

A severe weather warning has been issued with MetService predicting another 100 to 150mm of rain on top of the two months' worth that has already fallen in parts of Northland.

Severe southerly gales, gusting up to 120 kilometres an hour, are also expected today.

The fire service has been called to around 20 incidents today, including two people who were trapped in a car in flood water and a family stuck in a flooded house.

One person was washed down a hill and had to cling on to a tree to prevent getting swept away.

Kerikeri High School has been closed for the day and will decide whether to re-open tomorrow morning.

Northland Civil Defence spokesman Graeme MacDonald says widespread flooding is likely across the region and the situation is serious.

'We're urging people to take appropriate precautions, especially those living in flood-prone areas. We're also asking people not to travel at all and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary," he said.

Have you been affected by the heavy rain? Send your video and photos to ne...@tvnz.co.nz

MacDonald says between midnight Saturday and 9am today, 283.5mm of rain had fallen on the eastern hills above Kaeo - roughly twice the 130mm to 140mm of rain that normally falls on the Northland region for the entire month of March.

"With many of the region's rivers already seriously affected by the rain that has already fallen, more rain along the lines of that forecast, coupled with a 2.4 metre high tide along the east coast about 6pm today, means the likelihood of more serious flooding is looking increasingly likely."

The severe weather warning covers Northland, north of Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne.

Metservice said the rainband that has hit Northland will move across the Central North Island.

Forecasters said a deep sub-tropical low could bring a month's worth of rainfall in just 24 hours.

Flooding has been reported at Bulls Gorge over both lanes on State Highway 10 south of Kerikeri.

Police are also advising motorists in the Kaeo area to drive with care due to flooding on some roads.

State Highway One at Whakapara and several other roads in the Whangarei District have also been flooded.

Trees or slips are also blocking some roads in the area.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) echoed calls for saftety on the roads.

"Our contractors are doing everything possible to keep the highways safe, but conditions do change rapidly," NZTA's Regional Assets Manager, Steve Mutton said.

"If people do have to travel, they need to drive to the conditions and allow extra time for a safe journey."  

The NZTA said there has been flooding on SH1 at Te Kao, north of Kaitaia, and at Rangihau and near Morewa. There are also reports of fallen trees in North Maungamuka Gorge on SH1 south of Kaitaia.


The stormy conditions are being caused by a deep low pressure system which is lying northeast of Northland, and is expected to track across the country to Hawke's Bay this afternoon.

Forecasters are warning of the possibility of heavy rain affecting the area from Auckland, south to Taranaki and east to Hawke's Bay.

The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong southeasterly gales, which could become severe along the west coast of the North Island this afternoon. A severe gale warning has already been issued for Northland.

The rain is expected to ease tomorrow in the north, but strong winds are forecast to continue.