Wild Weather - Heavy Rain, Severe Gales, Thunderstorms and Flooding

[JennyLeez]

A rough night across the North Island.       

        Dozens of roads are closed and thousands of homes are without power across the North Island.
        There are major power outages in Taranaki, Rotorua and Hawke's Bay.
        Hundreds are without power after a rough night around Gisborne.
        State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Opotiki is closed and the township of Te Karaka is cut off.
        Gisborne civil defence manager Louise Bennett says people need to look out for others.
        Parts of the flood-damaged Tologa Bay could also be cut off and without power for much of the day.
        Air New Zealand says some of its flights may be affected.

Communities are cut off, schools closed and thousands are without power as heavy rain and severe gales cause flooding and slips aross the North Island.

A deepening sub-tropical low is moving over the area this morning. It dumped 130mm of rain overnight to the Gisborne Ranges and the already-sodden area can expect up to 220mm of rain, as well as thunderstorms, by 4pm today.

Gisborne firefighters had a dozen calls overnight, most of them storm-related.

State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Opotiki is closed and about 16 local roads are also closed because of slips and flooding.

More from NZ Herald here

10:00AM UPDATE Due to flooding, SH2 is now CLOSED from Gisborne to Opotiki. Please note SH5 is also CLOSED from Napier to Taupo.


This drop-out on Tauwhareparae Road illustrates why the road is closed. Truck drivers have been sneaking over the road at night and shifting road cones. The cones in this picture show where the underlying road foundation has been dangerously undermined.

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