Storm Damage Update 7 Feb 5pm
After record rainfall across Taranaki this weekend, flooding around the coast and in other parts of South Taranaki has subsided. As waters have receded damage is being assessed, repair and clean-up undertaken. Further rain (throughout the week and into next weekend) may exacerbate the damage and hinder clean-up work.
Damage assessments have been carried out today, by STDC building inspectors on a small number of properties where self-evacuations occurred and at Rahotu School.
Roads
Significant damage has been caused to the district’s road network. Here is the latest update on current local road status:
Mid Parihaka Road – Bridge overtopped with flood water, remains closed until thorough engineering assessment is done.
Weld St/Browne St in Normanby – road now open.
Tangahoe Valley Rd – Closed at the 4.1km mark and other slips further up the road – crews on site clearing. Road open to the lake. Extreme care required.
Rawhitiroa Rd – Mangamingi Saddle (14km from Eltham) – crews on site open to two lanes tonight.
Stent Rd (at the coast) – open, but care needed.
Opua Rd, Coast Rd, Punagrehu Rd – damage in places but roads are open. Extreme care required.
Other roads in the district may be blocked or damaged with slips, debris, surface flooding so please avoid driving if possible and take care if travelling.
All State Highways are now open. For up to date information on road closures/incidents on State Highways (SH 3 and SH 45) got to the Waka Kotahi NZTA website here.
Due to the record rainfall wastewater overflows occurred in numerous places across the district.
Warning signs have been erected at York St Patea, Mana Bay, Patea Boat ramp, Tawhiti Stream Hawera, Middleton Bay and Opunake Lake. Please do not collect fish/shellfish and plant life or come into contact with the water at these locations. The warning signs will remain in place until levels are considered safe.
As a general rule heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways and we always advise people not to swim in streams/rivers for at least three days after heavy or prolonged rainfall – even if a site usually has good water quality.
If you require welfare needs or advice, you can call the South Taranaki District Council on 0800 111 323.
The record downpour was caused by the same front responsible for flooding and the evacuation of hundreds of homes on the South Island's West Coast.
Over Saturday and Sunday, 191 millimetres of rain fell in Hāwera and 470mm at Cape Egmont, Metservice New Zealand reported. For context, Hāwera averages 73mm in total over the entire month in a typical February,’’ it said. Elsewhere in the region 221mm of rain fell in Stratford, 235mm in Inglewood and 219.8mm in Patea and falls of 485mm were recorded on Taranaki Maunga.
Metservice Severe weather forecasters have provided the following weather outlook this afternoon (7 Feb) Things have eased off weather wise but there is another trough offshore which could bring more rain from late this evening or tomorrow.
Looking ahead there is low confidence of heavy rain for Thursday (33% chance of 25mm) and Friday (50% of 25mm, 30% chance of 50mm). On Saturday the weather may get worse in South Taranaki. There is low confidence that a severe weather warning will be required before Friday, but confidence does increase heading into the weekend. Moderate chance of heavy rain warning on Saturday for South Taranaki.
For weather forecasting information please see www.metservice.co.nz
