Rain causes problems in BOP

[Wolfie33]

A lightning strike has caused a fire in a hay barn near Rotorua and there is flooding in parts of the Bay of Plenty.

NZ City 2 April 2016

Lightning has set off a fire in a hay barn near Rotorua and there is flooding in the eastern Bay of Plenty, as the predicted severe weather moves through.

The Fire Service responded to three calls in the Rotorua area early on Saturday evening, two to help deal with flooding and one to put out a fire in a barn in Paradise Valley, northern fire communication shift manager Daniel Nicholson said.

He said the person who reported the fire said it was caused by lightning.

State Highway 35 from Opotiki to Cape Runaway has also been affected by flooding and slips and is down to one lane in numerous places, police say.

They are asking motorists to avoid using the road unless it's an emergency.

Road crews will be working to clear blockages during the next few days.

Earlier on Saturday the MetService issued a heavy rain warning for the eastern Bay of Plenty, saying a trough was moving east across the country.

The heavy rain warning area included Rotorua, and MetService said thunderstorms were possible.

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=223989

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[Wolfie33]

Flooding on roads
               
                Image Oropi Road Tauranga by Pauline Happe

The following roads are reported to have suffered from the storm and motorists are advised to be cautious when using these roads.
-          SH2 Awakeri Sh30 Junction East To Opotiki at Nukuhou, near Intersection with Burnett Road there Is flooding across the road.

-          SH 35 Opotiki To Te Araroa at Waihau Bay, following multiple slips in this area marked lanes are open.

-          SH 2 Waioeka Gorge, following a large slip the road is opened to two lanes.

SunLive - Flooding on roads - The Bay's News First