Heavy rain continues for the Coromandel

Photo: Surface flooding in Pauanui.
The Coromandel experienced some heavy rain and strong winds over night causing surface flooding across the district. However, we are not out of the woods yet with this stormy weather.

Civil Defence advise that more heavy rain is expected right through Sunday combined with gusty winds.

“We expect another 100mm of rain today, which on top of the 120mm we have already received in the last 24 hours, may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous."

NZTA have issued an area warning for State Highway 25, Whangamata to Whiritoa. Motorists are advised to take extra care when travelling this route due to flooding across the road. Expect delays or avoid the area until further notice.

Our roading contractors are out checking our local Council roads, however as we are expecting more rain it is likely there will road closures. At this stage Wentworth Valley Road is blocked due to a flash flood late last night. We'll also include updates on known local Council road closures. If you see a Council road that is impassable due to flooding or a debris, call us on 07 868 0200.

The water tables are very high so expect surface flooding, manhole covers to pop and be especially careful if travelling, in particular if it is around the next high tide at 6pm this evening Our advice is to hunker down for the day and keep safe and dry. The Coromandel experienced some heavy rain and strong winds over night causing surface flooding across the district.

"Heads up - keep an eye on the high tide at around 6.20pm this evening. The water tables are very high so expect surface flooding and manhole covers to pop," says Mr Towler. "Our advice is to hunker down for the day and keep safe and dry. Heavy rain often results in slips which can affect the roading network and driving may be hazardous, so avoid travelling if you can otherwise check NZTA's website before you need to travel."

NZTA have the latest information about road closures and issues on our State Highways (eg, the Thames Coast Road, Kopu-Hikuai Road). You can also call NZTA on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) who can also provide traffic and travel information. You can also use their journey-planning website www.onthemove.govt.nz to plan the best route for your journey, taking into account known issues and traffic on state highways.

We are not aware of any power outages, however Hikutaia residents may be experiencing no or low water pressure. Contractors are on-site working on this and hope to have it resolved this morning.

There are also a number of events on this weekend. See our events newsletter here and follow the events official channels and websites for updates.

Be prepared:
• Torches and fresh batteries
• Ample drinking water and emergency food supplies
• An alternative means of cooking source if power is cut
• If your property is in a low-lying area, check if you need to move items to higher ground.
• Put away loose items and tie down trampolines or anything else that could be blown around in strong winds.
NZ Civil Defence has prepared the Get Ready, Get Thru website with lots of information about planning for emergencies. If you get ready, then you can get through.

It's also important to stay informed before, during and after emergencies. The more avenues of communication available to you, the better.
Here are some more we recommend:

Check MetService for the latest weather forecasts on this weather system.

Red Cross Hazards App - alerts about hazards. Download from the App Store or Google Play.

Local radio - Check stations and frequencies here.

Emergency Mobile Alert - these can be sent to your mobile phone, without needing to download an app or sign up. Check if your phone is capable of receiving them, here

Know your neighbours - phone each other, especially vulnerable people, to check if they're OK.
Waikato Regional Council has set up an online hub for rainfall and flood-related information to help people more easily keep up to date with severe weather events in the region. It can be found here.

We will post regular updates on our Council's Facebook page as well as on our website and email newsletters.
Also follow Waikato Civil Defence on Facebook here and check out their website for updates here.
To report a power outage, contact Powerco or your provider.
For more on these channels, and other information about staying informed in emergencies, go to the Civil Defence "Never Happens" website.

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