Gisborne & Hawkes Bay under water again 4th April 2012

[JennyLeez]

Weather will worsen before it gets better.
AN already-saturated district is struggling to cope as up to 100mm of rain is still forecast to fall around the region today, says the Gisborne civil defence emergency management team.
Things are expected to get worse before they get better, says New Zealand Transport Agency acting state highway manager Gordon Hart.
The state highways are all open but could close at any time.
Over the past month, every route out of Gisborne has been impacted by closures caused by flooding and slips, with severe weather putting pressure on the roading infrastructure.
A severe weather warning issued by the MetService this morning asks people to watch out for “flooded streams and rivers, slips and hazardous driving conditions”.
More........................
Gisborne Herald


Tuckers Road Gisborne.



and from TV3 News Online:
It is going to be a sodden lead-up to Easter for Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, with torrential rain not expected to let up until Friday.
The tropical low, which caused extensive flooding and six deaths in Fiji, has already brought heavy rainfall to Gisborne and Hawkes Bay ranges, but a further 150-180mm is expected today and early tomorrow, the MetService says.
The heaviest falls should ease on tomorrow morning, but the rain will continue until at least Friday.
River levels in the Gisborne area are up and Civil Defence is monitoring the situation.
Gisborne Civil Defence spokesman Jon Davies says they are not having to take any action at this stage, but they are expecting another couple of days of rain.
"The coastal areas are getting quite saturated," he told NZ Newswire.
Mr Davies says state highways in the region are still open, but road crews are dealing with some minor slips and downed trees.
Civil Defence in Hawke's Bay is asking people to carefully consider their plans for the Easter weekend.
Heading out in the caravan, or camping, is not advised, Civil Defence spokesman Ian Macdonald says.
"Our recommendation for travellers is to check that roads are open, allow plenty of time and watch for slips on the region's roads."
Current rainfall levels are not causing alarm and coastal swells are not expected to pose a significant threat to low-lying seaside communities.
Motorists are warned the weather conditions could make driving hazardous.
Read more:
TV 3 Online

Update:
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay today.

In Gisborne, rain is expected to become heavy this morning with 160mm of rain possible.

It is predicted to hit Hawke's Bay in the afternoon with 130mm of rain possible over the ranges. It is expected to continue into Thursday.

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[JennyLeez]

Gisborne District Council civil defence is keeping a close eye on the Tolaga Bay area tonight In case rain intensifies, which could cause problems.

Three families who live in the Mangatuna area, just north of Tolaga have been told to prepare to evacuate if there is more heavy rain.

Civil defence emergency manager Richard Steele said the situation was being monitored carefully.

"There is a bit more surface flooding around the flats and people should only be travelling tonight if they really have to."

[JennyLeez]

The road between Napier and Wairoa is closed due to slips and debris that has fallen and continues to fall away.
All daily deliveries as with the newspapers, milk and bread have not come through to the Wairoa District.
The District is relying on deliveries from Gisborne.
The Waioeka Gorge has also been closed again although they are clearing and letting traffic through at intervals.
So anyone on the east coast north of Napier who have made Easter holiday plans just may be out of luck. The advise from Transport NZ is to stay home, the roads are ways too dangerous at present.
Hopefully hbweather will email The Dominion to me, I have nothing to read

Below is a photo taken by a reporter from TV3 who was heading up this way to cover the damage.



Update 11.45am

SH 2 Napier To Wairoa Highway
Road Closed:
Riverside Rd, Whataupoko
Flooding Surface Water Hazard

Patunamu Rd, Otoi
Closed Landslips

Kotare Rd, Frasertown
Closed Flooding

Mohaka Township Rd, Raupunga
Closed Flooding

Mangaone Rd, Nuhaka
Flooding Impassable Extremely Hazardous Driving Conditions

Tarewa Rd, Waingake
Closed Fallen Tree

Hereheretau Rd, Whakaki
Closed Flooding

Kaiwaitau Rd, Mahia Beach
Closed Flooding

Nuhaka River Rd, Nuhaka
Closed Flooding

[JennyLeez]

From Weather watch:
Good Friday
Roads: A majority of state highways and minor roads should be dry and with good visibility however showers or some rain over parts of Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and possibly a little wet about parts of Northland and Auckland could make the roads a little slippery.

a little slippery huh!!!!
Maybe I better send Phil the above as I think the road appears a little more than a little slippery like its CLOSED...lol

[TokWW]

Sounds like its closed to all but bulldozers on those different roads...