Source: Radio New Zealand
Rain warnings for Canterbury. Supplied / MetService
Wild weather is expected to hit much of central New Zealand overnight, with multiple warnings and states of emergency.
MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Warning for Banks Peninsula, starting from 2am Monday and a Heavy Rain Watch for Canterbury Plains and foothills between the Rakaia River and Amberley.
Five districts have now declared a state of emergency – Manawatū, Rangitīkei, Tararua, Waipā and Ōtorohanga.
Manawatū District Council is the latest to make the declaration – in a post on social media, the council said it has activated its emergency response team and is closely monitoring river levels.
Heavy rain, rising rivers, slips, flooding, strong winds, and power outages are likely, the council said.
It advised people to take the declaration seriously and prepare now, while there is still daylight, make sure devices are charged and people have a battery-powered radio at the ready to listen to news updates.
The Rangitīkei, Tararua, Waipā and Ōtorohanga districts are also under states of emergency.
In a post on social media, Rangitīkei District Council said Mayor Andy Watson had made the declaration and the council had activated its emergency response team, and is closely monitoring river levels.
The council said it had also activated its process to close the Napier-Taihape Road.
It warned people to take the declaration seriously and prepare, while there is still daylight, including making sure devices are charged, and there was a battery-powered radio handy to listen to news updates.
An orange heavy rain warning has already been upgraded to a red warning – the highest level. The warning affects Manawatu, Rangatikei and Ruapehu Districts north of Feilding and east of State Highway One from 6pm tonight.
MetService said the heightened warning means there is a threat to life from dangerous river conditions and significant flooding and slips.
It says the weather conditions will isolate communities and make some roads impassable.
Several more weather warnings and watches have been issued for the east and lower North Island and the top of the South Island.
This latest burst of stormy weather comes as several regions reel from severe storms that have already closed roads, flooded properties and damaged infrastructure.
Hutt warnings
The Hutt City Council is also warning that the Waiwhetū Stream could rise rapidly overnight.
Those in the Lower Hutt suburbs of Waiwhetū, Moera, Gracefield, and Seaview are advised to evacuate immediately, and not to wait for an official warning, if rising flood water is seen.
Those needing to evacuate are advised to seek shelter with friends and family if possible – and to take pets and essential items with them.
Residents are asked to call 111 if their life or property is at risk.
They are also urged not to drive or walk through flood water as it is dangerous and may be contaminated.
Wellington trains cancelled
No trains are running in Wellington on Monday morning.
KiwiRail said a Wairarapa passenger train collided with a downed tree on Sunday.
“We are expecting winds of up to 130kph across the Wellington region overnight and on Monday morning. This poses a significant risk to the overhead electric cables across the metro network,” KiwiRail chief metro officer David Gordon said.
“Working with Metlink and Transdev Wellington, we have decided to close the metro network until network-wide daylight inspections can be undertaken. Our teams will be out on the tracks from 6am Monday, but it will take a number of hours to check the network.
“As a result, trains will not be running during the Monday morning peak. We will aim to reopen the network at 10am, depending on any damage discovered and repairs needed.”
Monday morning’s Capital Connection (Palmerston North – Wellington) train has also been cancelled.
RNZ’s live blog will resume in the morning.
RNZ/Marika Khabazi
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
