NZ Weather Forum

ben g wrote:Had some very good rain last nite in mangawai, the unofficial "depth of water in the pint glasses left out side gauge", shows about 65-70mm. Good Xmas prezzie for the farmers up here

74mm according to this Mangawhai PWS.

Manukau heads obs wrote:you have done very well so far David for rain I see

Yeah, 35mm total. Most of that fell in a 3 hour period though, so there was probably quite a bit of run-off.

Coromandel peninsula has been getting lots.

Friend on Facebook posted a picture of surface flooding in whangamata. Radar shows heavy rain down the coast

Anyone else having trouble with Metservice website today?

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/31772

There have been numerous reports of weather related incidents in the Thames -
Coromandel area.

Multiple reports have been received of slips along SH 25 as well as flooding
around Whitianga and Cooks Beach. Both Tairua and Pauanui are both afffected
by heavy rain as well.

Emergency services urge people to take care and avoid the affected areas.

Thanks,

New Zealand Police

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/ ... ndel-roads

As emergency services respond to several reports of flooding, Waikato Police
are urging against all but essential travel along the east coast of the
Coromandel.

Officer in charge of Thames-Coromandel Road Policing, Sergeant Jim Corbett,
said overnight heavy rain, which is still continuing, has resulted in several
areas being flooded and a number of slips.

"Flooding has been reported in Tairua, Pauanui and Matarangi, Whitianga and a
number of other locations with camping grounds at Opoutere and Cooks Beach
flooded. The community hall at Cooks Beach has been opened to accommodate
evacuated campers.

"The eastern coast of the peninsula appears to have been hit the hardest with
the area having just reached high tide which has compounded the issue. Our
advice to people intending travelling to the area is not to, at least for the
next three hours and to monitor the NZTA Highway Information website on
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current ... ghway-info [1]."

Mr Corbett said for those drivers who still need to use Coromandel roads
despite the warnings, extreme care needed to be taken, even after the rains
have stopped.

"There will still be a lot of water on the roads and the key thing will be to
take care and watch your speed."

Areas affected as at 0800 include but are not isolated to:
SH25 Kuaotunu-Wharekaho Rd on the Whitianga side of Kuaotunu Hill
SH25 Whangapoua Hill
Tairua- surface flooding various locations
Whangamata- surface flooding various locations
Pauanui- surface flooding various locations
SH25 Matarangi, surface flooding between Matarangi and Coromandel
Opoutere- surface flooding
Cooks Beach- surface flooding

End

You can also view this release, including any images, online at:
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/ ... ndel-roads

Thanks,

New Zealand Police

Some friends at Hahei camping ground on the Coromandel tell me it has been a very wet morning there, torrential showers, some flooding.

Severe Thunderstorm Outlook

Valid to: Midnight Sunday 29 Dec 2013

Issued at: 9:26am Sunday 29 Dec 2013

An active front and associated band of very heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms is currently spreading over Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty this morning and is expected to move east across Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne this afternoon and evening. Localised downpours of 25 to 50mm per hour are possible in these areas and a Severe Weather Watch and Severe Thunderstorms Watch are in force. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding,especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

There is also a moderate risk of isolated thunderstorms over other northern and western parts of the North Island this afternoon from western Northland down to northern Manawatu. Any thunderstorms that eventuate here are likely to produce localised heavy rain of 15 to 25mm per hour and possibly more in one or two areas and also small hail. There is a borader low risk of thunderstorms for this afternoon and evening over many other parts of the North Island.

Over the South Island, sea breeze convergences are expected in the south and west, along with cold temperatures in the upper atmosphere. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms from the Canterbury High Country down to inland Otago and Southland, with a broader low risk, as indicated on the chart. Any thunderstorms that occur here are also likely to produce localised heavy rain of 15 to 25mm per hour and possibly more in one or two spots.

Elsewhere, no thunderstorms or significant convection expected.

M.metservice.com not loading for me.Anyone have a Canterbury high country forecast?
In Hanmer cloud seems to be lifting after a night of heavy rain

Having trouble myself at the mo, but trying. They really need to sort this out.

Canterbury High Country
Today - 29 December
Cloudy at first, with scattered showers. Fine spells increasing this afternoon, however, showers about the divide may be heavy.
Wind at 1000 metres: Northeasterly 30 km/h.
Wind at 2000 metres: Northeasterly 35 km/h.
Free air freezing level: 2900 metres.
Issued at 6:28am Sunday 29 Dec 2013

Tomorrow - 30 December
Morning cloud, then occasional showers and fine breaks.
Wind at 1000 metres: Northwesterly rising to 50 km/h
Wind at 2000 metres: Northwesterly rising to 50 km/h.
Free air freezing level: 2800 metres.
Issued at 6:28am Sunday 29 Dec 2013

Tuesday - 31 December
Occasional showers. Northwesterlies, strong about the tops.
Issued at 12:33pm Saturday 28 Dec 2013

Wednesday - 1 January
Rain about the divide with heavy falls, easing later. A few showers elsewhere. Strong northwesterlies.
Issued at 12:33pm Saturday 28 Dec 2013

Thursday - 2 January
Rain about the divide, and the odd shower further east. Northwesterlies rising to gale in exposed places.
Issued at 12:33pm Saturday 28 Dec 2013

I think there website is just on the go slow today, been having problems here aswell.

Merservice only going for a low risk tomorrow on the east coast of the SI. I'm slightly surprised.

Looks good for Otago / Southland later this afternoon into evening

"Mini Tornado" in Papamoa east this morning

http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/61124-min ... pamoa.html

Heavy Rain & Flood Warning (Update) - Thames and Coromandel Area - Waikato

Emergency services are responding to numerous reports of flooding and Police are urging against all but essential travel along the east coast of the Coromandel.

Overnight heavy rain, which is still continuing, has resulted in several areas being flooded and numerous slips.

Flooding has been reported in Tairua, Pauanui and Matarangi, Whitianga and a number of other locations with camping grounds at Opoutere, Tairua and Cooks Beach flooded. The community hall at Cooks Beach and the Tairua School Hall has been opened to accommodate evacuated campers.

The eastern coast of the penninsula appears to have been hit the hardest with the area having just reached high tide which has compounded the issue.

Our advice to people intending travelling to the area is not to, at least for the next three hours and to monitor the NZTA Highway Information website on [url]http:/www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-condit ... ghway-info[/url]

Police advice to those drivers who still need to use Coromandel roads despite the warnings, extreme care needed to be taken, even after the rains have stopped.

There will still be alot of water on the roads and the key thing will be to take care and watch your speed.

Areas affected as at 8:00am today include but are not isolated to:

SH25 Kuaotunu-Wharekaho Rd on the Whitianga side of Kuaotunu Hill.
SH25 Whanagpoua Hill.
Tairua - surface flooding various locations.
Whangamata - surface flooding various locations.
Pauanui - surface flooding variouos locations.
SH25 Matarangi, surface flooding between Matarangi and Coromandel.
Opoutere - surface flooding.
Cooks Beach - surface flooding.

Inspector Steve Kose
Shift Commander
Police Northern Communications Centre

Yes MS have their head in the sand again , although would also like to the know the reason for the low risk.
Maybe its the possible cloud cover ahead of the change they are thinking of, however negative LI's -3C and 600-700 cape over Canterbury tomorrow combined with even slight heating and cooler air converging with warm moist air should be a really good mix in itself.
To me moderate/high risk along the coast tomorrow, even today I would spread a low risk out over the plains looking at the radars with purple down near ashburton before.
I am starting to think we may even get a clap of thunder later on with heavy rain especially if we get some heating which may well happen yet, its not bad out there 18.4C with a breezy NE and light spotty rain.
We have had up to 40mm here since xmas day, about 22mm of that fell yesterday between 9am and 2pm with heavy showers in from the east.

Another sunny warm day in Central Otago. Some large t/cu and weak cb.

Cb to my NW. Lots of heating here an I see MS have said there is a risk of severe storms here now.

jamie wrote:Cb to my NW. Lots of heating here an I see MS have said there is a risk of severe storms here now.

You can see pretty rapid shower development in behind the passage of the main front, on the Taranaki radar, currently.

Cb out to north west of Henderson with a couple of cracks of thunder in the last minute or two.

Did observe Cg lightning on the west Auckland line

Will this line eventually move more over land? I've got a decent NE at the moment so I'm assuming that line is the convergence line.

jamie wrote:Will this line eventually move more over land? I've got a decent NE at the moment so I'm assuming that line is the convergence line.

Its slowly moving in as it slides down the coast, still quite dark here in west Auckland - looks to be some good development on the radar in the northern Kaipara area.

Surface Flooding - Mt Maunganui and Papamoa Area. - Bay of Plenty

Today Police have been receiving constant reports of surface flooding right across the Western Bay of Plenty.

Areas that are particullary affected are Totara Street, Mount Maunganui and numerous streets in the Papamoa area.

Police are appealling for all drivers to avoid tha area or stay at home until later this afternoon to allow for the flooding to recede.

Drivers are urged to take extra care and drive to the conditions.

Inspector Steve Kose
Shift Commander
Police Northern Communications Centre.

Coromandel road update, rain stopped but Police still advise caution

As the amount of heavy rain affecting the Coromandel Peninsula appears to be reducing, Waikato Police are urging motorists to remain cautious and expect delays due to dozens of slips and floods.

Officer in charge of Thames-Coromandel Road Policing, Sergeant Jim Corbett, said while local council, traffic management and volunteer fire fighting crews had done sterling work in numerous areas affected by flooding and slips, several more areas were in need of attention.

"And it will take some time to rectify all the issues.

"Right now the main areas affected appear to be north of Tairua on SH25 heading towards Whitianga where flooding has closed the north bound lane while a slip is causing delays to both lanes on the same highway at Pumpkin Hill."

Other parts of SH25 affected by flooding are around Whitianga, particularly near the intersection with Wade Rd, Golf Rd and stretches of the Te Rerenga Kuaotuna Rd.

Parts of Pauanui are also flooded.

Earlier in the morning campers at a Cooks Beach camping ground were evacuated to a local community hall while campers at an Opoutere camping ground near Whangamata were given the option of a voluntary relocation to the local primary school after consultation with camp managers, the Rural Fire Service and Police.

"The eastern side of the peninsula appears to have been hit the hardest and with the next high tide due at 4.38pm there is concern that water level may rise again and we're urging people intending travelling to the area to delay their trip if possible.

"Travellers are advised to continue to monitor weather forecasts and the NZTA Highway Information website on
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current ... ghway-info [1]."

Areas affected as at 11:00 include but are not isolated to:

SH25 Kuaotunu-Wharekaho Rd on the Whitianga side of Kuaotunu Hill
SH25 Whangapoua Hill
Tairua- surface flooding various locations
Whangamata- surface flooding various locations
Pauanui- surface flooding various locations
SH25 Matarangi, surface flooding between Matarangi and Coromandel
Opoutere- surface flooding
SH25 Tairua-Whitianga road near the intersection with Paul Rd, culvert washed out
Cooks Beach- surface flooding
SH25 Pumpkin Hill