Nelson/Tasman Severe Rain Event - Dec 13-15

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Takaka is looking likely to get a hammering over the next 48 hours. Will be interesting to see what sort of rainfall they have there by then. 26mm currently.

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Takaka approaching 200mm now. Still a fair bit of rain to fall there for much of today so 300mm + perhaps.

[Tim S]

over 200mm already up at the headwaters of the brook, not a good sign considering how much more rain we are expecting in the next 24 hrs or so. Just talked to a mate at Civil Defence and they are keeping a close eye on those rainfall figures out in Golden Bay, though Tasman bay is at risk too as we have a high tide of 4.1m due at 1pm and it is pelting down here and expected to continue for a while judging by the radar. Haven't checked my gauge properly but looks to be around 50-60mm here already, which is high for where I am. Will be heading out shortly to check out the brook and maitai to see how full they are.

[jamie]

wow! some big numbers on the warnings thismorning. 300-400mm in some places in the 27hours from 9am wednesday. So does that not include what has already fallen?

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

wow! some big numbers on the warnings thismorning. 300-400mm in some places in the 27hours from 9am wednesday. So does that not include what has already fallen?

yeah thats on top of what has already fallen in the area! So thats impressive! I think Golden Bay/Tasman Bay could be in trouble later tonight from this, 230mm now around the Takaka area. Nice to hear from you Tim S. I trust you will keep us posted!

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

260mm now in Takaka region. Just come across this online with Civil Defence on standby.

http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/emergenc ... n/5/110426

Edit: Bugger, the Takaka station stopped working/updating 40 mins ago, perhaps too much rain?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news ... oses-roads

[RWood]

West Coast Regional Council currently shows Cropp as having 29mm in last hour, 175 mm today (since midnight).

[Tim S]

Just got back from checking out the Maitai and it was high but not as high as I have seen it. We passed the 1pm high tide without too much trouble although last I heard there was some sandbagging going on further upstream in more vunerable locations. More in preperation of further flooding though by the sounds of it. Emergency center has been activated at Tasman District council and the Nelson Council is also assisting, as I probably will be this arvo/evening, helping man the phones if needed. Very exciting event, though at the same time quite concerning as rainfall rates of 15-20mm/hr still being reported in the Richmond and NW ranges area with around 18hrs of similar rates expected this is going be a major event.

Pic of the Maitai River at around 1pm today:

IMG_3642.jpg

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Good feedback Tim! By the way - I see a Nelson City weather station is showing 120mm for the city today so far. Does this seem about right?

[Razor]

I guess this could have its own thread now...out of the realm of "General" weather. Hope all well with Tasman folk

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

I guess this could have its own thread now...out of the realm of "General" weather. Hope all well with Tasman folk

Good idea Razor. Do you want to create it?

[Razor]

it'll need a Mod to drag it all over

[Orion]

it'll need a Mod to drag it all over

I remember some of these webcams, and their fascinating time-lapse coverage, from a previous event...

http://www.tasman.govt.nz/tasman/webcams-in-tasman/

Best wishes to those coping with this rain & its effects.

[Razor]

Good stuff Mods...this event looks scary

At least the place isn;t full of holiday season campers yet

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Im there in 10 days time, would have been interesting!

[Tim S]

Good feedback Tim! By the way - I see a Nelson City weather station is showing 120mm for the city today so far. Does this seem about right?

No worries mate and yep, that'll be about right for that location, just about to empty another 50-60mm out of the gauge by the looks of it, that after emptying 50mm out of it around 8am this morning. looking at 150-200mm for Nelson itself, which is about 3 times the monthly average!

[FIREFROG]

Fire Service are responding to many flooding calls around Nelson, stoke, Collingwood at present

[Richard]

Some friends of mine went up to Nelson on Monday for a week holiday,i said to them don't plan on much beach bathing going by the forecast ,there week away may end up been a bit longer if roads become effected to much.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

it'll need a Mod to drag it all over

I'm not a moderator anymore but it should be clarifiied to a title of Tasman Heavy Rain Event

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

...or even Nelson?

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

It seems now the Nelson city station has stopped updating while displaying "Heavy Thunderstorm'. 167mm at the time of going offline. Looking at the radars, they may dodge a big bullet up there as the band is clearing from the west quicker than the models suggest.

[Nev]

More than happy to change the title John, but the same trough has also brought heavy rain to other areas of the north and west of the South Island, and over the next day or two is expected to bring heavy rain to a large parts of the central and northern North Island.

[Razor]

State of Emergecy and rain still thumping down up there. Hope that early clearance is correct...

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Yup you can see the radar clearing doing it now. Almost stopped raining in Takaka.

[Tim S]

It may be easing off but doesn't look like stopping for a while yet, still plenty more of the rain band to cross over us. I have just heard the army have been put on stand by to assist with evacuations if needed tonight as high tide is due at 1:20am and is expected to cause more serious flooding problems.