“A strong and extremely humid northeasterly flow precedes a tropical low that is forecast to approach New Zealand from the north today. Heavy rain, downpours and easterly gales are expected to affect many areas,” MetService said.
“The rain and wind should ease Thursday after the low crosses the country. Red and orange warnings are in force for many areas.”
MetService said conditions would disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.
“We can expect 180mm to 240mm of rain, with peak rates of 25mm/hr to 35mm/hr. MetService has signalled there is a moderate chance of upgrading to a red warning,” a representative from the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group said.
“We know this news might be worrisome, especially to those districts who have experienced significant rainfall in the last few weeks.
“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly, and surface flooding is possible, so if you see rising water, do not wait for official warnings – head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater. Never try to walk, play, swim or drive in floodwater.”
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence advised people not to travel unless it was an emergency, as there may be slips, fallen trees or surface flooding on roads. The organisation recommended drivers check with NZTA or their local council website for any road closures.
In Rotorua, a Western Rd resident who didn’t want to be named said the Ngongotahā Stream was looking fine as of mid-morning Wednesday and should have a way to go before there was a risk of flooding.
But she said locals would be keeping a close eye on it given the red warning and its past tendency to rise quickly.
The resident said one of the issues in some areas of Ngongotahā with properties that backed on to the stream was wastewater grills and pipes blocking up and flooding so it would be wise for those locals to check those and clean them out if necessary.
Lee-Ann Allerby, whose property borders the stream, said she was sitting tight at the moment and keeping a close eye on the stream.
During previous weather events, the stream has burst its banks and come dangerously close to flooding the Allerby’s property.
Meanwhile, SH2 through the Waioweka Gorge remained closed.
Roading crews working to clear around 40 slips along the highway have paused work today.
“With weather set to worsen over the day, crews will take a pause, rest, and allow the weather to pass before reassessing the site and resuming clearing work once safe to do so,” NZTA said in a statement.
“SH35 remains open, however, it is not a reliable detour route while weather is severe.”
SH2 south of Gisborne and SH5 remained open if people must travel.
Additional crews were on standby to respond to any incidents on the detour routes.
SH2 Gorge slip update
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi SH2 Waioweka Gorge response and recovery controller Rob Service said keeping roading crews safe was paramount.
“This will allow crews to rest and return safely on Friday to continue recovery efforts over the long weekend.”
Crews have been working from both ends of the SH2 Waioweka Gorge, as there has not been safe access through the central section since the slips came down last week.
Damage was extensive, and the full condition of the road and underlying structures remained uncertain until debris could be safely cleared, NZTA said.
“Our contractors are progressing well and continuing to push forward on what is a very large and complex task,” he said in a statement.
“Our focus remains on restoring at least one lane of access. We do not yet know what this will look like or when it will be possible, but we will share updates as soon as we can.”
Ōpōtiki side progress:
Crews remained on track to remove 60 large truckloads of material from the Goldsmith slip – the first from the Ōpōtiki side and potentially largest (about 110m high and up to 60m wide).
An additional truck has been brought in, with eight trucks and three diggers now active on this side.
Two additional crews were focusing on drainage and opening culverts to reduce the risk of further issues.
Gisborne side progress:
Crews fully cleared two slips on Tuesday.
Work continued on drainage and clearing blocked culverts.
Teams were also supporting vehicle recovery where safe access allowed.
NZTA was closely monitoring the upcoming weather system.
The network was already in a fragile state, and there’s a risk that more loose material may come down.
SH35 and SH2 south of Gisborne remained open, but long detours were required.
There had been a significant increase in traffic on SH2 south of Gisborne and large numbers of vehicles through to Bayview.
Travellers should delay travel where possible or allow significant extra time if using SH35 or SH5.
Meanwhile, in the Coromandel, flooding was being reported on Wade Rd, south of Whitianga. Surface flooding was also reported around the region.
SH25 from Whitianga to Tairua was closed, NZTA reported.
“SH25 is also closed south of Whitianga near Wade Rd. This means Whitianga can not currently be accessed via SH25 from north or south,” NZTA said on Facebook.
“SH25 is closed between Discovery Dr and Simpson’s Beach due to flooding. It is expected to remain closed for several hours.”
Around 200mm to 250mm of rain was expected to fall in the Coromandel Peninsula until 6am on Thursday.
MetService said there was a high chance the rain warnings would be upgraded to a red warning, particularly for the Coromandel Peninsula and Northland.
Fire alarm siren malfunction
In a post on Facebook, the Thames-Coromandel District Council said the Fire and Emergency NZ fire alarm in Coromandel Town malfunctioned on Tuesday evening, causing it to sound continuously for about five minutes in a steady tone.
“This was not a tsunami alert – there have been no tsunami alerts.
“We’re aware of the concern and anxiety this may have caused Coromandel Town residents, and can assure everyone that there is no cause for alarm.
“FENZ is investigating the issue and fixing it.”