Chaos all over North Island as deadly storm kills
BREAKING NEWS: infonews.co.nz can confirm a 23 year old man is dead in Taranaki following a tree falling on him.
Police, ambulances and the fire service is at the scene and Dribble NZ News based in Taranaki (infonews affiliate) said the scene is windy and wet making it hard for emergency services.
"The roads are very slippery, when we were on our way to the scene we saw one car swerve off the road luckly no damage. However the driver was quite frightened so not a good day for the roads" said a DribbleNZ Reporter.
Taranaki has a severe weather warning put in place as of 11am and residents are being told to only go on roads if you have an urgency to.
"Its dangerous out there, my car crashed into a tree as the roads were slippery" one resident of Taranaki told infonews.co.nz
NELSON FEELS FULL BRUNT
Meanwhile in Nelson motorists are being urged to stay off the roads.
The area was battered by torrential rain yesterday, especially in the Richmond and Stoke areas, where houses and cars were flooded.
"Drivers should also take care to avoid debris on Richmond and Stoke roads, plus missing manhole covers from stormwater systems.
"Residents are also asked to drive slowly through inundated areas so the bow waves from water do not rush into houses and businesses," officials said.
The Tasman District Council is only open to residents with very urgent matters as rain damage has made it hard in the building.
Residents with mud and silt inundation on their property should take care when cleaning up because of the possibility of sewage contamination.
Take adequate precautions: use rubber gloves and boot and protective eye gear. Wash your hands and any wet parts of your body with soap and water afterwards. For full instructions, visitnelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz
PARKS CLOSED IN NELSON
Rabbit Island Reserve is closed due to flooding and the risk of winds toppling trees.In Richmond, the following parks and reserves are closed:
- Easby Park Playground
- Dellside Reserve, all access
- All sportsgrounds
ROAD CLOSURES IN NELSON
- The bridge at Kina Beach Road is open with one lane. - ONE LANE
- Polglase Street in Richmond is closed - CLOSED
- Aniseed Valley Road at 5KM marker is closed -CLOSED
- Riwaka Valley Road is closed. - CLOSED
- There is still surface flooding in many parts of Stoke and Richmond. Spokeswoman Angela Ricker said residents should drive slowly through inundated areas so the bow waves from water do not rush into houses and businesses. - DRIVE SLOWLY
ITS NOT OVER YET
But the bad weather isn't about to let up, with the MetService issuing heavy rain and thunderstorm warnings for Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty.
The MetService says conditions eased overnight, but further bursts of heavy rain were likely through this afternoon.
"People in these areas should be aware of rising rivers and streams and the potential for surface or flash flooding, together with possible slips," a spokesperson says.
MetService forecaster John Law said was likely the rain will continue through the week, easing up by Anzac Day.
"We've had this area of low pressure out towards the west of us, and it's brought in this really moist, humid northerly flow, and that's been bringing the perfect ingredients for these heavy, thundery showers we saw over the likes of Tauranga and also across parts of Nelson last night," he said on TV3's Firstline this morning.
COUNCIL TRIES TO FIGHT IT
Tasman District Council has set up an emergency operations centre and some families are now staying in temporary accommodation at the Richmond New Life Centre.
Mr Frater said the centre will be able to provide information and help with accommodation as well as financial help and insurance advice.
However, Nelson was not the only region hit with Hamilton and Raglan still recovering after a thunderstorm passed through the area about midday on Sunday.
Three or four houses were flooded in Hamilton, but there had been no significant flooding there, while in Raglan a small tornado damaged a few houses.
FLOODED WITH CALLS
Hamilton City Council received "lots of calls" about flooding and sent a message urging residents to drive carefully and watch for manhole covers that may have moved in the downpour.
Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa and Waihi Beach were also badly hit.
About 50 homes in the Tauranga suburbs of Otumoetai and Matua had been evacuated due to rising water levels.
TARANAKI TO GET HIT NEXT "AND BAD"
More heavy rain and thunderstorms are possible today and MetService has issued another severe weather warning for Taranaki.
A complex area of low pressure is currently crossing New Zealand and humid, unstable air associated with this system is bringing bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the North Island and upper South Island, MetService said.
In the nine hours from 9am to 6pm today, another 30-70mm of rain is possible on top of what has already fallen, especially about northern slopes of the mountain.
Peak rainfall rates of 15 to 25mm per hour are possible and showers are expected to continue tonight and through much of tomorrow, persistent and heavier about the mountain.
This is breaking news, infonews.co.nz will follow updates threw out the day below.
LIVE UPDATES:
11.39AM: infonews.co.nz can confirm the man that died in Taranaki is just 23 years old.
11.35AM: "Its dangerous out there, my car crashed into a tree as the roads were slippery" one resident of Taranaki told infonews.co.nz
11.15AM: Police warn residents to stay indoors and not to use there vehicles unless you have to.
11.00AM:Met service issues more severe weather warnings for Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty.
10.30AM: infonews.co.nz confirms one person has died in Taranaki after a log hit him.