Rain continues in Nelson and Tasman as Heavy Rain Warning Turns Red

 

Heavy Rain Warning Red for Nelson

MetService have late this afternoon upgraded the weather forecast to a Red Warning from Cape Soucis, through Nelson City to Stock.

The expectation is for a further 250 to 400 mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h possible, especially until about 6pm Wednesday and again during Thursday morning. 

This rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding. Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities.

UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENTS AROUND NELSON AND TASMAN

 

• A state of local emergency has been declared in Nelson and Tasman
• If you  live near the river from the Nile St Bridge to the Golf Course, please EVACUATE. Stay with friends and family if you are able. If you have no safe place to go, head to the Saxton Stadium . Take pets, essential medications and warm clothing. Avoid bridges and rivers. We are going door to door to evacuate affected people but if this is you, do not wait. 
• A regional state of emergency was declared on the West Coast on Tuesday
• Tasman Police have advised people in the wider region to limit their travel.
• Heavy rain has been falling in Nelson-Tasman and will continue until Thursday evening
• Both Nelson and Tasman service centres have been overloaded with calls and ask if only urgent calls are made.
• Both Nelson City and Tasman District Council don’t supply sand bag help
• The Matai River in Nelson has flooded, and homes are being evacuated. About 70 properties are affected
• Emergency management have recommended residents of parts of Westport evacuate their homes 
• Some residents at Paines Ford in Golden Bay have been evacuated
• Many roads in Golden Bay are closed
• There are slips, road closures and surface flooding in Golden Bay, Richmond and SH6 from Rai Valley to Hira
• The MetService has issued orange warnings for Nelson and Tasman, and red warning for the West Coast.

• About 200-350mm of rain had been recorded in the ranges of northwest Tasman by lunchtime Wednesday, with about 230mm at Franz Josef

• The Tākaka Service Centre will be CLOSED for the rest of Wednesday 17 August and Thursday 18 August so staff can assist with Civil Defence Emergency Management efforts. 
• There are reports of boulders blocking lane along Wakefield Quay
• Slips on roads in North Nelson.
• Montgomery Square carpark entrance from Bridge St closed due to flooding.
• Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
• Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
• Reports of stormwater overflow along Rocks Rd.
• Flooding SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, caution advised if traveling.
• Main Road Stoke (Saxton to Sailsbury) will likely close soon
• Maitai Road closed
• Slips on roads in North Nelson.
• Montgomery Square carpark entrance from Bridge St closed due to flooding.
• Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
• Reports of stormwater overflow along Rocks Rd.
• Flooding SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, caution advised if traveling.
• Main Road Stoke (Saxton to Sailsbury) will likely close soon
• Maitai Road will closed
• SH6 Rocks Road is closed
• Landslide Atawhai at Devenish Place going out to Dodson Valley Road. Staff alerted. 
• Riverside Pool closed due to flooding.
• Sewage overflow Gloucester St. 
• Flooding Frenchay Dr Atawhai. 
• Contractors responding. 
• Parkers Rd pump station down. 
• Hanby Park starting to flood.
• Founders Heritage Park has closed due to slips and flooding near the park on Atawhai Drive.
• Very high volumes of stormwater is infiltrating the wastewater network means the pumps across the region are struggled to cope. Raw sewage has spilled from these sites Tasman District Council has said. The Council has created a list on their website and are urging people to treat all surface water as potentially contaminated. (follow the link) Treat all surface water as potentially contaminated
• If you are in danger and cannot evacuate safely, call 111
• With the amount of rain that's due to fall in the next few days we're expecting slips, rockfalls, tree falls and travel disruptions. Click the link below to keep up to date with any local, Tasman road closures and disruptions via an interactive map. Clicking on the affected road will bring up the issue, description and other relevant information (such as speed restrictions and expected road reopening dates)  For a complete view of State Highway disruptions, head to Waka Kotahi’s website. Local Tasman, road disruptions and closures

Pigeon Post News

State of Emergency Declared in Nelson

State of Emergency Declared as the Maitai floods 

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese has declared a state of emergency after the Maitai river in Nelson East breached its banks.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management is asking people who live near the river from the Nile St Bridge to the Golf Course to evacuate.

People are being asked to stay with friends and family if you are able.

If people have no safe place to go, they should head to the Saxton Stadium where they will be able to gain assistance.

Mayor Reese says there are preparations underway to look after people who need to leave their homes and there will be trained people on hand to offer support.

People are being asked to take pets, essential medications and warm clothing.

Civil Defence is asking people to avoid bridges and rivers.

ROAD CONDITIONS AROUND TASMAN

 

 Road Conditions - Tasman District

Roading conditions across Tasman District as at 1.30pm Wednesday 17 August:

East Tākaka Road is closed due to flooding - just down the hill from the Glenview Road intersection.

Tākaka-Collingwood Main Road SH60 is now closed at Waitapu Bridge.

Pupu Valley Road Closed.

Golden Hills Road Closed.

Abel Tasman Drive Closed.

Pōhara Valley Road Closed.

One Spec Road Closed.

Collingwood Puponga Road Closed by Whites Bridge.

We have reported slips above Pohutukawa Place Pōhara.

There is also extensive flooding reported along low reaches of Bartlett Creek and Ellis Creek, Abel Tasman Drive, Pōhara.

Wainui Hill is closed just north of Tata Beach due to slips.

Appleby Bridge to Three Brothers Corner, Three Brothers Corner to Ranzau Road and Whakatu Drive has surface flooding.

The D’Arcy Street road closure has been postponed due to the weather.

Pigeon Post News

Update from West Coast Emergency Management

 

West Coast Emergency Management

 17 August 2022

Prepared and waiting

Agencies across the West Coast have spent the last several days preparing for the significant weather event currently affecting the West Coast, and across New Zealand. 

The latest modelling is indicating an easing in event intensity around Westport. 

For the Buller River, the forecast flow range has come down to 4000 – 6000 cumecs. This is a reduction from yesterday’s forecast flow of 5000 – 7200 cumecs. 

 

While this event is still expected to bring significant flows to the Buller River, bank overtopping from the event is not expected, with flows similar to the first February event.  

The peak flows will occur tomorrow, early morning for Te Kuha and mid-morning for Westport. The Orowaiti Overflow will receive flows after 4000 cumecs. The tide is slightly higher than what was experienced during the February event. This may increase river levels in the Snodgrass area. 

Te Aroha Cook, West Coast Group Controller, said that observations will give confirmation of actual flows early tomorrow morning. 

“For Westport, if you experienced flooding in February, or are feeling vulnerable due to proximity to the Orowaiti, you may want to consider self-evacuation. There may also be stormwater ponding, surface flooding and stopbank seepage. Self-evacuation includes making arrangements for pets and lifting valuables.”

Further south, Civil Defence and supporting agencies are still expecting rivers to rise in Westland. Peak rain intensities are expected from late Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.

“We are watching the Hokitika River closely. We know that it is currently high and more rain is expected. Peak flows are anticipated to coincide on a falling tide.”  

Observations on the Wanganui and Waiho Rivers are ongoing through the event. 

“As the freezing level continues to rise we can also expect increasing snow melt which will impact our river flows, particularly as we move south through the region.”

Stock and animals should be moved from low lying rural areas, including Snodgrass. 

“Plan your journeys IF you need to go, but please just stay at home.”

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POLICE CONFIRM - SH6 - ROCKS ROAD NELSON - CLOSED (Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Media Release)

 

SH6 ROCKS RD CLOSED

First signs of weather event emerge following overnight rain across Nelson Tasman

17 August, 2022

Police confirmed at 11.30 this morning 17 August that SH6 Rocks Road is closed following a slip this morning near Britannia Heights Nelson City. The Police advise to take an alternate route.

Main Road Stoke (Saxton to Sailsbury) will likely close soon and Maitai Road will close soon.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM NELSON TASMAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The anticipated heavy rain forecast appears to be coming to fruition across the Nelson Tasman region. Steady rain is setting in across Golden Bay, particularly in the Aorere Valley where between 22 and 29mm has fallen overnight, and more than 240mm in the last 30 hours. 

The Aorere River just reached a level at which we can expect the Ferntown Road, near Collingwood, to be flooded this morning, although the current low tide may delay this slightly. 

Other parts of Nelson Tasman have received low to moderate amounts of rain overnight – with less than 3mm overnight in Murchison and around Nelson City, while up to 18mm has fallen around Riuwaka. 

Due to the likelihood of the Riuwaka River reaching significantly high levels today, peaking at around 3pm, residents in the vicinity of Cooks Corner were notified on Tuesday evening of potential flooding around their properties and to make plans accordingly. 

The Nelson Tasman CDEM Emergency Operations Centre has been set up in monitoring mode this morning and we are expecting to become busier as the anticipated rain and wind descends on the area. 

We would like to reiterate that the weather is expected to get worse in the next 24 hours. Please ensure you take all the necessary precautions to prepare for potential hazards to keep your property, yourself and your loved ones safe. 

Surface flooding, slips and tree falls are likely, so please delay unnecessary travel, particularly in the Golden Bay area and avoid the urge to go sightseeing.  

Takaka sewage pump stations are struggling to cope with volumes and there are overflows at some sites. These overflows contain raw sewage and people must avoid these areas 

Surface flooding and slips have already begun to cause road closures in Golden Bay.  

Collingwood-Puponga Road is closed by Whites Bridge, One Spec Road, Pohara Gully due to flooding. Wainui Hill is closed just north of Tata Beach due to slips. Abel Tasman Drive is open  (up to the Wainui Hill) but has a lot of surface flooding 

A surface flooding warning is also in place for SH60 Upper Takaka and Collingwood. The road remains open but please take extra care and drive to the conditions.  

Picture received from Golden Bay

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Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activated in both Nelson and Tasman

Floods, slips and road closures expected in Nelson and Tasman

The developing weather situation in Nelson and Tasman has prompted the activation of the region’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), to be set up in a monitoring mode, late today Tuesday 16 August.

The Buller Region has been issued a red heavy rain warning and have activated their Emergency Operations Centre earlier in the day. 

The Emergency Operations Centre is fully operational, while a state of emergency has been declared for the whole of the West Coast region. 

This area is expecting periods of heavy rain up to 550 mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges south of Little Wanganui, and up to 280 mm elsewhere. Dangerous river conditions are expected with significant flooding with slips and floodwaters which are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable.

The Tasman and Nelson areas have a heavy rain warning orange for west of Motueka and there is the same for Richmond and Bryant ranges, Rai Valley, Nelson Region and the Marlborough Sounds.

There is a heavy rain watch yellow for the Tasman District east of Motueka excluding Richmond and Bryant ranges, Rai Valley, Nelson Region and the Marlborough Sounds and the same for Marlborough northwest of the Inland Kaikoura Range and south of the Richmond Range.

There is quite a complex area of warnings and watches. If in any doubt check with MetService and see their maps of areas with warnings and watches.

Finally there is a strong wind watch yellow from 8am Wed, 17 Aug to 6am Thu, 18 Aug. The areas effected are Nelson, Tasman and Buller with Northeast winds which may approach severe gale at times.

Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly with surface flooding and slips also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous. 

In Tasman there is an expectation that rain in large amounts will accumulate about the ranges in the west. Some models indicate 650 to 750 mm about the ranges during a period from 9am Tue - 6pm Thu, 18 August. To a lesser extent rainfall will accumulate in the rangers to the east and in Nelson itself.