Wild weather in NZ's South Island

I doubt it I could find the source but a comment on radio said that assistance would be targeted because funds are running out for assistance.

Rivers break record levels as heavy rain continues

Authorities are warning that widespread flooding is possible as rain continues to fall across the South Island today.

TVNZ,

17 June, 2013

Otago Regional Council's Matt Dale told TV ONE's Breakfast this morning that most of the region's rivers are at record levels or are already above record highs.

"The rainfall intensities that have given us these record floods are only about half of what was actually predicted, so there is still a chance of 10-15mm an hour rainfall as opposed to the 8mm we have had so far, so rivers still could rise well beyond what they have at the moment," he said.

The council said all rivers from Milton north to the Waitaki River are at flood levels, causing widespread surface flooding, and are continuing to rise.

Dale advised residents to be careful around rivers and to be very careful when travelling

The council said flood managers are monitoring river levels and providing local flood alerts.

Dale told Breakfast that the council had been "lucky enough to be able to see this event coming from quite a way off".

"We sent out warnings to farmers in low-lying areas on Friday so they've had plenty of time to move stock and equipment off the river flaps so hopefully they have done that, and here on in it's just keeping a close eye on this," he said.

More rain to fall

A large complex low in the Tasman Sea is moving slowly towards the South Island spreading a strong moist northeast flow over New Zealand.

The Otago Regional Council reports that coastal areas have had up to 70-90 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours and that amount could yet double, raising the prospect of further surface flooding.

Likewise, MetService forecasters said that rain was likely to be persistent about north Otago until this evening.

MetService said a further 60 to 70mm of rain is expected to fall from 8am to 6pm today in north Otago and Dunedin.

In the following 12 hours, a further 20 to 30mm is possible for north Otago and Dunedin.

Delays

Police are urging motorists to avoid much of the South Island's roads due to flooding and slips.

Heavy rain throughout Otago caused a number of slips on the road between Cromwell and Clyde last night, including a large rockfall which caused police to close a section of State Highway Eight.

That section of the highway has been reopened this morning.

State Highway One, south of Waikouaiti, is closed due to flooding and detours are in place.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is advising motorists that delays will continue this morning on Rimutaka Hill Road on State Highway Two due to a number of slips.

NZTA Central operations manager Mark Owen says a series of minor slips came down during the early morning hours, closing the southbound lane towards Upper Hutt in a number of places, and contractors are battling to restore the road to full capacity.

Owen says motorists should expect delays. He said contractors hope to have the road fully reopened later this morning, subject to conditions.

While the slip is mainly affecting traffic travelling from Wairarapa to Upper Hutt, vehicles heading northbound to Wairarapa are also likely to face delays.

The NZTA asks motorists to drive with great care on all roads, and to watch their speeds and following distances in slippery conditions, with more wet weather forecast throughout the week.

Downpours force school to close in Canterbury

A school has been forced to close in Canterbury as the region is hit by widespread flooding.

Rangiora High School in Canterbury closed at 11am due to increasing road and bridge closures and inability to staff classes, Acting Principal Scott Wright says.

In a statement on the school's website, Scott said students may go home at 11am....

The on-going heavy rain has caused flooding in a number of locations around Christchurch, with surface flooding in Beckenham, New Brighton, Northwood, Burnside and Sumner.....

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/downpours-force-school-close-in-canterbury-5467191

Rescue teams praised for efforts at fatal landslide

Radio NZ,

17 June, 2003

Police say all that remained of the house that slipped on Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road was one wall and the roof.

A woman died there on Sunday afternoon after her house was destroyed in a 200-metre landslide after heavy rain. She was Jude Hivon, 63.

Emergency services were alerted at 1.15pm..

Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed said rescue teams are to be commended for their efforts in trying to save the woman in a dangerous situation.

The death has been referred to the coroner and the site of the slip will be examined in daylight on Monday.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the death shows how vulnerable the area is to extreme weather.

The nearby settlement of Riwaka was also very badly flooded with orchards and front gardens still under water.

Nelson family evacuated from home after slip

Radio NZ,

17 June, 2013

Police in Nelson say a family of four were evacuated from their home at 1.20am on Monday after another landslide.

Up to 113mm of rain fell in parts of the Tasman region between midday and midnight on Sunday, causing landslips and severe flooding.

In the worst of the landslides, a woman died after her house was swallowed by a 200-metre slip near Marahau.

Inspector Steve Greally told Morning Report the rain caused many minor slips and a more serious one at 1.20am.

They are staying with relatives and an assessment of the damage to their home will begin when the sun rises.

Inspector Greally understands the slip occured in the same place as a previous landslide during the 2011 flooding.

Roads still closed

More rain is expected to hit the South Island on Monday and a number of roads are still closed in the Tasman and Waitaki areas because of slips and flooding.

Waitaki District Council says the Western-Ngpara Road to the North-West of Oamaru is closed, which is expected to interrupt school bus services today.

Another 14 minor roads are also closed in South Canterbury.

Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road is still closed blocking access to Marahau after a woman was killed when a landslide hit her house.

Tasman District Council says crews were out Sunday night working to have roads reopened.

Many roads in the region remain closed, including Motueka Valley Highway, Abel Tasman Drive in Golden Bay at Wainui and Cobb Valley Road.

In the lower South Island: State Highway Eight between Cromwell and Clyde, State Highway One at Waikouaiti River Bridge and State Highway 83 from Pukeuri To Seven Mile Rd are all closed.

It is only one month since it flooded in Nelson

Record flooding in North Otago

Radio NZ,

17 June, 2013

Civil Defence in Waitaki says it will have to begin evacuating homes in North Otago if rivers continue to rise.

All but one of the region's major rivers have flooded, with most at record levels. The rain began on Saturday afternoon and just won't stop.

Waitaki Civil Defence controller Murray Linwood said the Kakanui river is the biggest threat, because it is still rising and it is threatening four or five houses.

Many bridges are out, dozens of local roads are under water, and State Highway One is cut in multiple places north and south of Oamaru, cutting off the town.

Mr Linwood said North Otago has become a no-go zone for travel.

All of North Otago's major rivers including the Kakanui - Waikouaiti, Shag and Waianakarua Rivers have broken their banks onto farmland.

Many other roads are out across the south of the South Island and up to 100mm more rain is forecast to fall on Monday.

SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW!!

Via Facebook

We have a bitterly cold southerly blast on the way and it is going to pack a punch. 

We will clear most of the rain away this afternoon for a mostly fine day tomorrow. On Wednesday things change, the day will start off with rain and turn to snow later on at night. 

This should clear by about 10am but return with vigor on Thursday night. This system has the potential to dump 30cm of snow to Christchurch and cause major disruption to road travel and air travel. 

Ice could be a problem on Thursday morning and create a good base for snow that night. Bigger accumulations are likely above 200m!

People traveling between 10pm Wednesday and the weekend are advised to take extreme precautions.