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There is a severe storm watch for most areas of the country with possible heavy downpours, hail over 2 centimeters in diameter, and potentially even a small tornado.
The worst affected areas were expected to be in the North Island, Otago and Canterbury, including Christchurch.
Harmful hail and a small tornado were possible in the easternmost parts of Taupō and Taihape, as well as in Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua district.
Are you affected by floods or heavy rains? Email [email protected]
The Bay of Plenty had experienced heavy and persistent rains and was also under severe thunderstorm watch.
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Road closures still affected many parts of Otago and motorists were urged to check conditions before heading anywhere.
Roads were closed in parts of the South Island after heavy rains began on Saturday and Civil Defense urged drivers to delay the trip to avoid being stranded. The floods also affected parts of Waikato on Saturday.
Police confirmed that rescuers found two homeless people who reported late at Jubilee Hut, north of Dunedin, in the heart of the heavy rain zone, at 4 a.m. Sunday.
They were airlifted to Dunedin around 10 a.m.
MetService Meteorologist Tom Adams said the rain, concentrated in northern Otago and parts of Canterbury, was caused by a slow decline engulfed in semitropical air.
Rain gauges and rain radar showed heavy downpours in the 36 hours to midnight Saturday with a “significant number” of places registering 100 millimeters to 200 millimeters in that period.
A rain gauge between Dunedin and Ōamaru registered 214 mm.
The weather system was moving east of the South Island Sunday morning, but it didn’t leave room for blue skies.
MetService warned that eastern Otago was still expected to receive rain on Sunday and that some would be heavy with some thunder and possible localized downpours.
As of Sunday afternoon, a heavy rain watch was in place for parts of Buller, where thunder was possible.
Lyn Dolly / Supplied
Heavy rains flooded Ruru St in Whangamatā.
Emergency Management Otago Group controller Matt Alley said three state highways remained closed in the region Sunday morning: SH90 from Waikoikoi to Tapanui, SH87 from Kyeburn to Outram and SH83 from Otematata to Aviemoredue.
Numerous local roads were also affected by surface flooding, slipping, landslides and debris.
Some city councils in the region had issued boil warnings for communities whose water supplies had been affected by the floods.
“As people look forward to resuming their travels this morning, we recommend that they check road conditions before leaving, observe all road closures and detours, and allow additional time to navigate to their destination,” said Alley.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said some motorists were stranded by road closures.
There were blue skies where he was on vacation, in Otematata inland Waitaki, on Sunday, but harsher weather was expected.
Supplied / Stuff
Roads and bridges in central Otago have been closed due to flooding from heavy rains. In the photo: Scotts Lane was closed due to flooding.
“It’s just about being organized for eventualities, but not being able to do much about it except react.”
Meanwhile, a harsh slow motion was bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to Bay of Plenty and Kawerau, with downpours of up to 40mm per hour possible.
“Rains of this intensity can cause surface and / or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers, or narrow valleys, and can also cause landslides,” MetService warned.
“Driving conditions will also be dangerous with flooding on the surface and poor visibility in heavy rain.”
After an influx of people to Waikaia for Christmas, the North Southland township was almost deserted again.
Waikaia camp owner Greame Coats said three-quarters of the campers left the camp Saturday afternoon due to flooding.
Coats had driven to Piano Flat, north of the city, to check the water level, and it wasn’t long before he realized it was raining heavily.
It was reminiscent of the 1984 floods, when the city had experienced heavy rains, he said.
Once the rain settled down, Coats hoped the campers would return, as most had left their caravans behind and many were regulars who stayed for the summer.
Waikaia Brown Owl Cafe owner Lindsay Brown said most of the campers left before flooding blocked the only way to get in or out of town.
The store was well stocked for residents and the few remaining campers in Waikaia, and the roads were expected to be clear by around 3 p.m.
“Today there will not be a great demand for ice cream.”
There had been a similar amount of rain compared to last February’s flood, but Brown hadn’t noticed the same amount of debris causing damage.
He said he wondered if tarseals on the roads would lift when the floods subsided, as it did in February.
