New storm expected to hit North tomorrow

A new storm expected to hit Northland tomorrow (subs: Tues 29 July) is poised to deliver worse flooding than that experienced at the weekend, experts are warning.

The MetService today issued a weather warning for Northland, predicting another 80mm to 100mm of “sustained heavy rain” could fall on an already sodden region in the 18 hours from 3pm tomorrow, especially in eastern areas.

Northland Regional Council hydrologists say with ground in the region already saturated – and river levels still higher than usual after the weekend’s deluge – the new storm is likely to bring even worse flooding to both rural and urban areas.

“Flooding is likely to be more extensive than that which occurred over the weekend and with rainfall expected to reach 25mm per hour in places there’s also a definite potential for more slips and road closures,” Graeme MacDonald, the Regional Council’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Senior Programme Manager, says.

Mr MacDonald says unlike the weekend storm – which was over relatively quickly - the new low is expected to deepen rapidly over the area northwest of the North Island tomorrow afternoon but hang around a lot longer before finally moving southeast over New Zealand on Thursday and Friday.

The MetService says gale force northeast winds are also likely in exposed places, but at this stage the winds are not expected to be as strong as they were on Saturday. However, forecasters warn trees and buildings already affected during the weekend’s storm may experience further damage.

Mr MacDonald says officials in Northland will be monitoring the situation closely as the low approaches and urge other Northlanders to do the same and make sure they’re well-prepared.

“It’s highly likely this storm will deliver the sorts of rain being predicted and it would be far better for people to spend a few minutes planning ahead now – and organising their day accordingly - than be caught out tomorrow.”

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“Most people are fairly aware of the areas and roads in their local area that do flood in heavy rain and these are the same places and routes likely to find themselves under water again this week.”

Mr MacDonald says while it might seem he was stating the obvious, it was surprising how many people did not take an area’s previous history into consideration during a storm and were then caught out by what were largely predictable events.

He repeated earlier warnings for people to watch for rapidly rising streams and rivers and to keep up to date with the latest weather forecasts.

Farmers were once again being advised to move stock to higher ground if they hadn’t already done so and motorists were being told to avoid all unnecessary journeys tomorrow and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Regional Council today released figures showing parts of Northland have received almost 350mm of rain so far this month. The highest rainfall total recorded to date is at Opouteke (Eastern Tutamoe) with 347mm, significantly above the 219mm the area normally receives for the entire month of July.

The Tutamoe area has received 321mm (its July average is 263mm) while Tara (Mangawhai) has recorded 273mm so far this month, again well above its 179mm July average.

In Whangarei City, 224mm of rain has fallen so far, again well above the July monthly average of 162mm.