NZ: Floods in lower North Island

It seems that there will definitely be more of this in the lower North Island.

Flooding cuts off Wairarapa town

The main road into Martinborough has reopened, reconnecting the Wairarapa town with the rest of the country.

Stuff,

13 July, 2013

State Highway 53 was closed by flooding yesterday at the Waihenga River Bridge near Martinborough, and detour options were also closed stranding people in the town.

The highway reopened around 2.15pm today, although the NZ Transport Agency was urging motorists to be careful and said contractors would continue to monitor the road. Some other roads to the town had also reopened.

For most of the country today's weather is expected to be relatively benign, but a wintry sting returns tomorrow with gales and snow.

State Highway 56 remained closed at Opiki, near Palmerston North, early this afternoon.

The NZTA was also urging drivers to be cautious on the Desert Road, which reopened after being closed due to snow.

In the South Island NZTA continued to warn motorists to take extra care on SH8 between Twizel and Fairlie because of ice and grit on the road.

Horizons Regional Council said the worst of the wet weather in its area had passed, but flood gates at Moutoa would remain open until about 2pm today to relieve flood flows in the lower Manawatu River.

Gisborne was getting the worst of the weather today, with heavy rain through the morning. Between 11am and midnight a further 70mm to 90mm was expected on top of what had already fallen, MetService said.

"People are advised that the heavy rain could cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, surface flooding and slips, and make driving hazardous."

Gisborne was also likely to be hit by southwest gales, possibly becoming severe tonight and through Sunday, specially about the coast.

Rain was forecast for Hawke's Bay, becoming heavier tonight, and in both Gisborne and Hawke's Bay the rain was expected to continue tomorrow into Monday.

Tomorrow a strong cold southerly flow should spread over the country, bringing snow to low levels in the south and east, and gale southerlies to central New Zealand. Severe gales with damaging gusts up to 130kmh in exposed places were expected in Marlborough and Wellington, easing tomorrow night.

Southerly winds reaching severe gale strength were also possible tomorrow in Kapiti, Whanganui, Taranaki, the North Island central high country, and the hills and ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty.

Snow falls could be heavy above 400 metres in Southland tomorrow, as well as in the Canterbury foothills north of the Rakaia River, and the southern Kaikoura ranges from tomorrow morning through to Monday.

In the central North Island high country and the Ruahine Range, snow was expected to become heavy tomorrow afternoon.

"Many higher roads are likely to be affected in both islands," MetService said.In Wellington snow was forecast down to 200 metres tomorrow, affecting the Rimutaka Hill road and possibly some hill suburbs. Sleety showers with snow lowering to near sea level were expected in Christchurch and Dunedin tomorrow.

On the Lewis Pass up to 20cm of snow could accumulate from 8am to midnight tomorrow between Hanmer Springs and the summit. On Porters Pass snow was expected down to about 200 metres tomorrow continuing into Monday, with up to 25cm above 500 metres and up to 10cm down to 300 metres.

Snow showers had been falling on the Desert Road today but were expected to clear this evening, with none of the snow expected to settle. Tomorrow afternoon snow was expected to develop again, first above 900 metres then down to below 500 metres. Up to 4cm was expected above 800 metres.