Severe Weather Warning

A heavy rain warning for Hawke’s Bay from Tuesday and Wednesday means that flooding and slips are likely, advises Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

The region’s soils are already wet, so rivers are expected to rise quickly.

Regional Council staff will be on duty monitoring rainfall and river levels.

The heaviest rainfall is predicted for inland Wairoa, Tutira and the Napier-Taupo highway. Over the next two days, heavy rain of 200-300mm is expected in the ranges and 100-150 mm in coastal areas north of Napier. South of Napier rainfall of 140-180mm in the hills and 60-90mm along the coast are expected.

Rainfall is expected to become heavy during Monday night, and during Tuesday and Wednesday rainfall intensity of 20mm per hour is possible.

It is possible that flood waters may come across roads, and drivers need to take care and check for road closures before settling out. Areas that may be affected are SH2 near Wairoa and SH38 into Waikaremoana around Wairoa-Ardkeen.

Regional Council staff will closely monitor rivers and rainfall in Wairoa especially, and liaise with the District Council which relies on monitoring to alert them of flood risks on the plains near the township.

Farmers who lease grazing areas alongside all the main rivers are being advised that they should move stock.

Heavy swells are also likely to impact on coastal areas. While there are neap tides at the moment, there is a storm surge of approx 200mm which means heavy swells at high tide are likely to cause damage especially Haumoana - Clifton. Swell predictions are for approx 4m easterly swells at Haumoana, but turning SE as the event passes, with 5 – 7 m swells impacting the southern Hawke’s Bay beaches.

ENDS

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