Flooding hits upper South Island

[Te Puke Weather]

Flooding hits upper South Island

Flooding hits upper South Island

Posted by wwadmin on Sun, 15/07/2012 - 10:39
Filed in:NZ
Flooding has completely cut off Westport this morning, as heavy rain pounds the region and the upper South Island.

While some properties around Murchison and Golden Bay in the Tasman region have also been flooded this morning.

Police said Westport was completely cut off because of severe flooding on State Highway 67 from Westport to Greymouth, State Highway 6 from Westport to Inangahua, and on State Highway 67 from Westport to Karamea.

The Buller River was also close to breaking its banks on the Westport side, police said.

"There is concern that continued rain may lead to significant flooding in and around the township. The tide has just turned and is on the way out."

Read more at http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/flooding-hits-upper-south-island

www.weatherwatch.co.nz

• Tweet

[JennyLeez]

Flooding on the West Coast of the South Island has cut off Westport after heavy rain swamped the region overnight.
Westport was closed to all traffic because of serious flooding on the state highways to Greymouth and Inangahua, police said.
The Buller River was close to breaching its banks on the Westport side and there was concern that continued rain might lead to more serious flooding. At least one homeowner had been evacuated, near Carters Beach west of Westport.
Police were urging residents to stay at home and avoid "sightseeing...particularly in or around the breakwaters at the Buller river mouth, as flooding in that area has made it quite dangerous". The tide had turned and was on its way out.
Westport is particularly vulnerable to flooding because it is on the flood plain between the Buller River and the Orowaiti Estuary, an old channel of the river that carries a substantial flow during deluges.
The storm also caused minor flooding in Murchison, Nelson and Golden Bay, the region's Civil Defence said in a statement.
Five homes in Murchison had been inundated and the Takaka River had risen over the Waitapu Bridge, closing the Takaka-Collingwood Highway. Slips on state highway 65 near Murchison were being cleared but the road remained open.
MetService said the intense slow-moving weather front was moving gradually off the upper South Island, easing the heavy rainfall in Westland, Buller, Nelson and northwest Marlborough.

TV3 News

[Suezy]

Heavy rain moving north
By: Anna Cross | Latest National News | Sunday July 15 2012 10:12

 

The rain that's been lashing the top of the South Island is on the move, north.

MetService forecaster Paul Mallinson says the rain is expected to move onto Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range.

He says it'll then spread across the central North Island today and tomorrow, so those areas can also expect significant rainfall.

Heavy rain is also causing problems in the Nelson-Tasman region.

In Nelson, Maitai Valley Road near Sharlands Creek has been closed because of surface flooding.

Sandbagging is also taking place on Avon Terrace from Bridge Street to Hardy Street.

In Murchison a creek has overflowed into five properties.

There's also been flooding in Golden Bay at the Pohara Camp area, and at Motupipi School.

The Takaka River is also rising over the Waitapu Bridge, forcing the closure of the Takaka-Collingwood Highway.

Photo: NZ Herald

Cpied from Newstalk ZB

[OhauitiWeather]

The heaviest of the rain appears to be over for the South Island. A few lingering light showers are possible about the north and west. Otherwise, no additional rain is expected. Meanwhile, heavy rain continues across a large part of the North Island.

Widespread flooding has already occurred in parts of the SI. Severe flooding cutoff Westport this morning.

WeatherWatch Facebook reader Laura Redmond says the Buller river was flowing across the road to Carters Beach. She said that is the first time she has ever seen it over that road.

WeatherWatch Facebook reader Maxine Hornell reported flooding in Nelson, Motueka and Takaka Hills, in addition to the road to Blenheim being closed due to flooding.

WeatherWatch Facebook reader Beverly Macks reported a lot of rain in Inglewood and New Plymouth with lots of surface flooding.

Here are the Heavy Rain Warnings still in effect:

• Mt. Egmont/Taranaki
• The Tararua Range
• The hill country of Waitomo, Taumarunui, southern Waikato and about the Central Plains
• Eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty

Rainfall rates of 10/15mm per hour can be expected in these areas through tonight. The rain may ease a bit at times, but the heavy rain is not expected to back off across the western regions until late tonight or early tomorrow morning. The western regions could see heavy rain through tomorrow afternoon.


By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/heavy-rain-and-flooding-update