Weather: Floods, slips on the South Island cause road closures, more than 1000 lightning strikes on the North Island

The Civil Defense urges tourists from the Otago region to delay trips to avoid being stranded as floods in the South Island lead to road closures.

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MetService has issued a heavy rain advisory for the lower parts of the South Island, including the northern areas of Otago, Dunedin and Clutha until midnight Saturday.

A severe storm watch has been raised and was in effect for much of the North Island.

According to the forecaster, there is a moderate risk that some storms will worsen, with the possibility of localized showers of 25 to 40 millimeters per hour.

Around 12.30pm, MetService meteorologist Robb Kerr said the weather event was expected to worsen during the afternoon.

north island

Flooding has been reported in the Waikato region, both in Morrinsville and Whangamatā, with photographs showing surface flooding on roads.

MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said that shortly after 5 p.m., thunderstorms were hitting the North Island.

Heavy rains hit Northland and Coromandel, Marsters said, as well as Hūnua Ranges in southern Auckland.

MetService tweeted that more than 1,100 lightning strikes have been detected in the last 2 hours over the North Island.

A rain gauge on Mill Rd, near Manurewa, recorded about 30 millimeters of rain between 11 am and 12 pm, which was “far higher than all the others.”

Rain is considered “strong” when it exceeds 6mm per hour, Kerr said, and 30mm is a downpour.

Taranaki had seen a total of 20mm of rain at 12:30 pm, while Northland saw 14mm of rain between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm

There was also some thunder south of Auckland and across the Waikato, he said, however there were only about 10 lightning strikes around 1.30pm.

“Lightning is quite exciting, but it can be quite dangerous,” he added.

The lack of wind meant the storm was moving slowly, which could cause flooding.

“Wherever they go out, they stay.”

south island

One camp was evacuated and three state highways were closed due to a combination of flooding, slipping and at least one destroyed bridge.

SH6, between Kingston and Queenstown, was closed Saturday afternoon due to flooding and slipping, but had reopened to a single lane with a stop / go system at night.

SH1 was closed in Maheno, which is south of Ōamaru, due to flooding.

Fenz has closed the Kakanui Bridge, near Maheno and on SH1.

The Waitaki district council said the bridge was unsafe due to accumulation of debris on its central piers. Cleaning up debris is not an option until water levels are significantly reduced.

Meanwhile, SH87, from Kyeburn to Outram, has closed due to the collapse of the Kokonga Bridge. SH83 from Otematata to Aviemore has also been closed due to flooding.

The Waitaki District Council said police evacuated the campers at Boat Harbor Camp in Otematata as the river threatens to break the flood bank.

The local domain of Otematata has been opened for campers who cannot make it home.

Campers at Piano Flat in Southland were staying with the locals, according to Civil Defense in Southland.

Civil Defense urges Otago tourists to consider delaying trips to avoid being stranded.

The group’s controller for Otago emergency management, Matt Alley, said driving alone will be more challenging in much of Otago at night as the rain is expected to continue until 3 a.m.

“Staying where you are tonight is a better option than being stranded in your vehicle or having to be rescued from a dangerous situation,” he said.

A flood team from the Otago Regional Council is modeling “significant increases” in river levels, Alley said.

In Waikaia, Southland, local farmer Rodney Williamson said that just before 7 pm the rain was “pouring down” and that the last two hours for him had been full.

He’s helping neighbors move livestock to higher ground as the rivers continue to rise. Just before 7 p.m., he helped turn off the light at a neighbor’s house, as it was at risk of flooding.

Williamson believed the water was already close to the same levels seen about 12 months ago and thought the rivers would still rise tonight.

He has already changed a flock of sheep again after the designated high ground was not high enough.

Williamson hoped everyone in the region would stay safe at home, “like the Covid lockdown,” he said.

The water supply for Patearoa, in downtown Otago, has been shut down to prevent drainage of the water reservoirs in case the water line is damaged.

The Patearoa Bridge has also been damaged by wet weather.

The Otago Central District Council is organizing a potable water tanker for affected residents.

Parts of northern Otago have seen 100mm of rain in the past 18 hours, Kerr said.

“A few” weather stations in the vicinity had seen close to 60mm in the last 24 hours.

As a result, the Kakanui and Kauru rivers have “grown rapidly,” according to Otago Regional Council spokesperson Sharon Hornblow.

The source of the Taieri Basin is also increasing, which could affect Silverstream and other rivers, causing flooding within the Gordon Rd floodway, it added.

The Pomahaka River in West Otago is also rising steadily.

In Southland, the Waikaia River has overflowed into Piano Flat, a Stuff said the reporter.

“It started to rain here on New Years Eve and it hasn’t stopped – we had 24mm on New Year’s Day and it is expected to rain through Wednesday.”

The road from Kingston to Queenstown is closed.