Date: 0900hrs 16 July, 2007

Heavy Rain Warning Lifted, Rain to Ease

Overnight rain has again caused surface flooding in Northland – mainly south of Whangarei – but a heavy rain warning issued for that area has now been lifted.

Northland Regional Council figures show 60.5mm rain fell on the Tara area between midnight and 7.50am today, with 48mm falling over the roughly the same period on the Brynderwyn Hills.

The Whangarei District Council this morning reported State Highway One had been closed by a slip at the Mangaturoto turn off and no one could get into Whangarei from this turn off using SH1.

Elsewhere, 26.5mm of rain had fallen on the Regional Council’s Whangarei headquarters between midnight and 7.50am. Further north, 23.5mm of rain fell on Kaeo over the same period while 22mm was recorded at Ohaeawai between midnight and 6.45am.

Graeme MacDonald, Hazard Management Team Leader at the Northland Regional Council, says the overnight rain has caused surface flooding, but mainly in areas south of Whangarei and at Whangarei Heads.

He says the rain could also increase the risks of slips across parts of Northland already weakened by last week’s torrential downpours.

The Whangarei District Council this morning reported flooded roads at Cove Road,
Springfield and at Maungakaramea either side of Job Rd, a tree down on
McEwan Road and slips on Whangarei Heads road at Waikaraka and Mangapai Caves Road.

Mr MacDonald says MetService forecasters report the weather is expected to clear in Northland today, although there remains a possibility of more showers.

ENDS

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