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North Island flooding: Homes evacuated, slips block state highways

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 21 May 2023, 9:48AM

North Island flooding: Homes evacuated, slips block state highways

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Sun, 21 May 2023, 9:48AM

A number of residents in Marton in the Rangitīkei District have been evacuated, while flooding and slips have forced the closure of parts of State Highway 1 and State Highway 3 in the central North Island after torrential rain lashed the area overnight.

The Rangitīkei District Council evacuated some residents from their homes, including the Wellington Road, Marton flats.

Some houses along the Tutaenui Stream have been evacuated.

Flooding on Raine St, Whanganui May 21, 2023. Photo / Whanganui Civil Defence

Flooding on Raine St, Whanganui May 21, 2023. Photo / Whanganui Civil Defence

A post on the council’s Facebook page said “We have activated the welfare centre for anyone that has been evacuated. The fire service, including volunteer service, is out monitoring and evacuating people,”

“Anyone in Marton that needs to evacuate can go to Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa at 85 Hendersons Line, Marton.”

State Highways in the area have been affected by flooding and slips.

State Highway 1 at Mangaweka has been blocked by a slip, while State Highway 3 is currently closed between Warrengate Rd and Wikitoria Rd.

Northbound traffic on State Highway 3 should detour by Warrengate Road, Number 2 line/Portal St, left onto State Highway 4, and then back onto State Highway 3.

Motorists on these roads should expect significant delays.

Most regions of the North Island found themselves under heavy wind warnings yesterday, with parts of the central and west of the island placed under heavy rain warnings.

Anzac Parade State Highway 4 in Whanganui is closed between Georgetti Rd and Mt View Rd due to a fallen tree. Photo / Finn Williams

Anzac Parade State Highway 4 in Whanganui is closed between Georgetti Rd and Mt View Rd due to a fallen tree. Photo / Finn Williams

According to MetService, an average 60-70mm worth of rain fell across the Manawatu-Whanganui region between 5pm last night and 7am this morning.

The highest recorded rainfall was 73mm in Kauangaroa - east of Whanganui.

Flooding in Whanganui’s Kowhai Park. Photo: Finn Williams.

Flooding in Whanganui’s Kowhai Park. Photo: Finn Williams.

But things should start to become a lot calmer today.

MetService Meteorologist Dan Corrigan said rain in Manawatu will ease into showers today and tomorrow, but nicer weather will emerge by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the South Island will have occasional rain with some nice spells depending on the location.

“Classic Autumn weather where you get the horrible weather and then the nice weather and the horrible weather again,” said Bakker.

“A mixed bag.”

The Auckland region saw some of the country’s strongest wind gusts - and at times persistent rainfall - which for a while impacted badly on its motorway system.

MetService recorded gusts of 50-knot wind gusts - nearly 90 kilometres an hour - at around 2 pm yesterday that forced Waka Kotahi to initially close lanes and then temporarily close the Harbour Bridge.

The bridge ended up being closed several times during the day and into the evening due to the winds.

The restrictions caused a massive build-up of traffic on the Southern Motorway heading north, with bumper-to-bumper traffic stretching from Sylvia Park Mall all the way to the Harbour Bridge.

Waka Kotahi asked residents to use the alternative SH16/SH18 Western Ring Route, before the bridge was opened again this evening. Buses on the routes affected were being told to pull over and wait

Sixty knot - or 110 kilometres an hour - wind gusts were recorded out in Auckland’s Harbour.

Hauraki Gulf Weather tweeted the weather system had produced a wind gust at Manukau Heads of 143km/h or 77 knots.

The buffeting winds and showers were brought by a moisture-laden, intense low-pressure system rushing over the country from the Tasman Sea since Thursday.

The danger of the powerful gusts is elevated by wet soil from recent deluges, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said.

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