Update on extreme weather in New Zealand

Kapiti prepares as storm moves north

The Kapiti Coast District Council is warning people to stay away from local waterways as rains that flooded the West Coast overnight, moves north

Radio NZ,

19 June, 2015

Meteorologist Rob Kerr said the storm was moving north with up to 250 millimetres expected in the next 24 hours in the Tararua Ranges and up to 100 millimetres on the Kapiti coast.

A council spokesperson said the Otaki and Waikanae Rivers were already beginning to rise, and Otaihanga Domain and Otaraua Park was closed as a precaution.

More bad weather was expected to hit parts of the North Island over the next 48 hours.

100mm of rain in past 12 hours in Tararuas. 40mm recorded at many other Wellington/Kapati rain gauges. ^EB pic.twitter.com/DHHLLKTLxk

— MetService (@MetService) June 18, 2015

Metservice said Waikato, Northland and the Bay of Plenty would catch the storm tomorrow as it moves northward.

Parts of Taranaki and the central Plateau will receive more rain today and into tomorrow with snow likely for the Desert road.

The Waikanae River is starting to rise.   Photo: RNZ/ Alex Ashton

West Coast hit by severe floods

Overnight, severe flooding in Hokitika inundated the central business district and forced the evacuation of a rest home and 30 properties in the West Coast town as part of the winter storm that is sweeping up the country.

What's the weather like where you are? Share your pictures or video with us by email iwitness@radionz.co.nz

About 400mm of rain fell on the West Coast in the 24 hours to 6am.

West Coast Civil Defence regional manager Chris Raine said the rest home was threatened by floodwaters late last night and 46 residents had to be moved out.

Listen to West Coast Civil Defence regional manager Chris Raine on Morning Report ( 3 min 7 sec )

Some were taken to another rest home, while others were taken to Greymouth Hospital, he said.

Mr Raine said many streams had broken their banks and a close watch was being kept on rivers in the district, including the Grey River in Greymouth which ran very high.

The river rose to 5.5 metres early this morning and peaked about 10m.

Hokitika Primary School was closed, but all other schools in the flood-affected area are thought to be open.

The school said most of its teachers lived in Greymouth and the main road between the two centres was restricted to four wheel drive vehicles.

Flooding in Hokitika  Photo: Twitter / @pandasport

A couple and their dog had to be rescued by helicopter from their West Coast home early this morning after flood water left them stranded.

Police, along with the Coastguard and Surf Livesavers, also used an inflatable rescue boat to rescue the couple and their dog stranded by flood water in their north of Kumara Junction.

The rescue came amid calls by police for people to avoid travel on the West Coast today unless it is essential.

Westland District Council mayor Mike Havill told Morning Report said most of the water had gone.

"The Hokitika River is still within its banks, flooding that affected the town obviously the storm water drainage couldn't cope with the reported 400mm of rain. But that seems to have gone away."

He said the "mop up" had already started in the town.

Grey District Council mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the area had been hit hard.

Listen to Grey District Council mayor Tony Kokshoorn on Morning Report ( 2 min 17 sec )

"We're pretty sure it is easing off now and the rivers are containing the water within their banks."

Mr Kokshoorn said they would make another assessment this morning.

Hokitika resident Max Dowell said his garage had been flooded.

He said his personal rain gauge records 241mm of rain gas fallen on his home in the past 24 hours.

"It has stopped now, but we've got a lot of drying out to do."

Mr Dowell said Hokitika's drains had not coped with the amount of rain and were overflowing.

Roads in the region were flooded leaving communities isolated.

State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Greymouth is suitable for four wheel drive vehicles only and there is flooding on the road south of Hokitika.

Snow still causing issues

Snowing is now falling heavily in parts of South Canterbury many roads were still closed after yesterday's snowfall.

Mt Hutt ski field was closed due to high avalanche risk.

The Geraldine Civil Defence Area Headquarters has been activated, due to heavy snowfall.

About 4000 Alpine Energy customers were without power overnight in freezing conditions.

Company spokesman Michael Boorer said snow had damaged the Fairlie network, in the Mackenzie District in Canterbury, and power was cut at about 5pm last night.

He said it was too dangerous for crews to work on the damaged network overnight but would start again this morning.

The MetService meteorologist Rebekah LaBar said the snow level in Canterbury and Otago would "gradually rise today" from about 200 metres to 500 metres.

"The worst is over but I hate to say that it's going to be improving a whole lot.

"It's still going to be a pretty rainy, showery time."

Messy looking radar images this morning with more rain feeding across from the west.http://t.co/F7NJwxwAYI ^JL pic.twitter.com/kP723tV9Tw

— MetService (@MetService) June 18, 2015

She said snow got down to lower levels than expected yesterday, with the Canterbury towns of Ashburton and Timaru both receiving snow showers.

Most inland state highways were closed overnight and parts of the West Coast, particularly from the Fox Glacier to Haast, experienced flooding because of heavy rain.

And motorists are being advised not to travel unless it is essential.

Ms LaBar said rain and snow would continue today for parts of Canterbury and Otago but the cold front would slowly move north.

Snow in Twizel on 18 June 2015  Photo: Instagram / faneybelle