Authorities warned heavy rain could cause problems in Northland, Taranaki, Nelson, Tasman and Westland Photo: 123RF
Evacuations are being carried out in Tasman after a stream has breached its banks, with orange heavy rain warnings in place there as well as for Nelson and Marlborough, Northland, Taranaki and Westland, and a heavy rain watch over Buller.
Officials from several regions issued warnings on Friday to residents to take care in the heavy rain, to prepare for slips and surface flooding and to stay updated on the changing conditions.
Tasman flooding prompts evacuations, while warnings in place for Nelson and Marlborough
Some residents in the Tasman district were being evacuated after heavy localised rain in some parts of the region, and the police said some roads in the area were impassable and called on people to stay home.
Civil Defence said the Brooklyn stream had breached its banks, which led to the decision to evacuate about 20 homes in the nearby coastal settlement of Riwaka, north west of Nelson, just after 9pm Friday.
Civil Defence Nelson-Tasman said houses were being evacuated in Old Mill Road, Swamp Road and Factory Road.
They reminded people to call 111 first in an emergency.
Paul Shattock from Civil Defence Nelson-Tasman said the Motueka Recreation Centre was open for residents needing shelter.
Where to stay up to date on the changing conditions:
- NZTA's journey planner
- MetService severe weather warnings and watches
- Check your local council and local Civil Defence websites for updates
The flood water had flowed onto paddocks and farmland. Shattock said on Friday evening that homes had not been flooded yet, but the evacuations were happening as a precaution.
The police said a number of roads in the Tasman District were impassable, especially in the Riwaka area.
Heavy rain had caused slips, flooding and trees to fall in some places. People were being urged not to drive, but if they had to, to take care and to check road conditions with Waka Kotahi, and local council updates before they left.
MetService forecasters said people in some parts of Tasman could expect up to 100mm of rain near the coast and up to 170mm about the ranges between 8pm Friday and 11pm Saturday, on top of what had already fallen.
From 8pm Friday the rain could reach rates of up to 30mm an hour, and forecasters warned that while there could be periods where the rain eased off in Tasman on Saturday morning, it was expected to return to heavy falls again.
In Marlborough and Nelson the rates of rainfall could reach up to 25 mm an hour, and between 11am Friday and 9pm Saturday between 150 and 250mm of rain could fall about the ranges, and 100 to 150mm elsewhere.
Nelson mayor Nick Smith urged residents to remain vigilant. While the intensity of rainfall in the latest forecast was reduced, he stressed there were still orange heavy rain warnings in place.
"There is still the risk of flooding, there is still the risk of landslides, and we're still wanting the community to take precautionary steps.
"We particularly want people to keep a close eye on the highway conditions report from Waka Kotahi, as there is still a risk of travel disruptions."
Smith said the highways most at risk were the main links to Marlborough, Tākaka and the Motueka Valley.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence were on alert and would be closely monitoring river levels and rainfall to determine if they need to activate.
"We've been making arrangements for emergency accommodation in the worst case scenario," Smith said.
The same moist slab of air which has brought substantial rain to northern & western parts of NZ continues to affect these regions today
— MetService (@MetService) May 4, 2023
This rain-laden air snakes west over the weekend, concentrating the heavist falls over the north & west of the South Island pic.twitter.com/UQA6jkxbKv
Smith also called on residents to ensure their properties were prepared for the heavy rain, advising them: "to make sure those gutters and things are prepared.
"We've closed some of our reserves and playing fields just because of - when they're saturated, the risk of damage to those."
Northland
In Northland, an orange rain warning was posted for all of Friday into Saturday morning, with another 50mm rain expected between 8pm Friday and 6am Saturday. Peak rainfall rates of up to 25mm an hour were possible, especially in thunderstorms, MetService said.
Steady heavy rain fell through much of Thursday had already brought down small slips and led to road closures.
Northland Civil Defence communications specialist Zach Woods told Morning Report that by Friday morning the far northern and western coastal parts of Northland, including Kaitaia, had seen the most rain so far.
"Looking at what we've received and what we're due to receive, we are through the worst of it, but we are asking residents to just continue to monitor the situation with us and ... if anything does happen to stay prepared and look out for the roads," Woods said.
"There's definitely a high amount of saturation in the soil, and that's why although this heavy rain continuing to come isn't as heavy as we'd normally be concerned about ... just because it is such a long event and there is so much moisture already there - that's why we have to just continue to monitor this closely."
Woods said the hydrology team at Northland Regional Council would continue to keep a close eye on river levels through the orange weather warning.
Taranaki rain warning extended
The orange Heavy Rain Warning for Mount Taranaki was extended for 24 hours until 9am Saturday.
The region was expecting a further 90 to 130mm in rain in addition to what had already fallen, including up to 70mm between 8pm Friday and 9am Saturday
Peak rates up to 30mm an hour were expected on Friday night, Taranaki Emergency Management Group controller Todd Velvin said late on Friday morning.
Velvin said overnight from Thursday into Friday morning the region did not get as much rain as had been expected, but authorities would continue to monitor the situation into the weekend.
He said as storms like this one become more common it was important to be prepared, stay informed and listen to official advice.
Buller and Westland warnings
MetService also placed a heavy rain watch over the Buller area until 3pm on Sunday 7 May, and an orange heavy rain warning over Westland, until 3am Saturday.
It warned those in Westland that some coastal areas could have up 80mm of rain, and up to 110 mm about the ranges. Peak rates there could reach 25mm an hour.
