Heavy rain lashes the South

[Suezy]

 
Heavy rain lashes the south
PAUL GORMAN
Last updated 10:30 08/08/2012

Rivers are bursting their banks and some roads are closed as heavy rain lashes the South Islan

Downpours in South Canterbury are expected to slowly creep north to affect the rest of Canterbury by this afternoon.

The Taylor River in Blenheim is already swollen and police are urging drivers to take extreme caution.

This morning the MetService issued a heavy rain warning for the Canterbury foothills, with 60mm to 90mm of rain likely until 9pm tonight. Peak intensities of up to 15mm an hour are likely late morning and this afternoon.

A heavy rain warning is also out for the Kaikoura coast and ranges, with 130mm to 180mm of rain likely in the ranges until midday Thursday and 90mm to 130mm along the coast.

Blue Skies weather forecaster Tony Trewinnard said Christchurch was likely to get around 30mm of rain, mostly later this afternoon and tonight.

"If we get 30mm on top of the already very wet ground that will bring the rivers up and you could expect a bit of surface flooding."

Rain was expected to clear tomorrow, with drier conditions on Friday and Saturday.

However, another weather system heading for the South Island later in the weekend had the "potential" to bring snow to low levels, although it was early days to be too specific, Trewinnard said

"We need to signal that at this stage, but it might not come to much. It will be much colder though, the first cold southerly for a month."

In Marlborough, surface flooding and rising rivers has seen several roads closed including State Highway 63 by the Broadbridge yard, Ben Morven Rd, Godfreys Rd, Brookby Rd and Dillons Point Rd.

Old Renwick Rd between Pak Lims and Jacksons Rd and Redwood Pass Rd are also closed and Ward Beach Rd and Reserve Rd, at Seddon, remain closed after the flooding last week.

Conditions are not expected to improve in the short-term, with MetService forecasting rain for the next week.
Copied from The Press

• Tweet