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Slips, power cuts after overnight storm
Stormy weather overnight caused flooding, power cuts and lightning strikes in the Wellington region, and more than 1000 homes were without electricity in the lower North Island.
Rain falling this morning, Photo: MetService
The storm brought high winds and heavy rain to the lower North Island, and lightning strikes to the capital.
MetService said thunderstorms are expected to continue in Kāpiti and Taranaki .
Fire and Emergency had about a dozen calls about flooding.
Some roads in the Wellington region were closed and many were partially covered with slips and fallen trees:
• Paekakariki Hill Road - closed due to fallen trees
• Makara Road, Makara - tree down and slip almost covering both lanes - the road is still open but care is needed.
• Takarau Gorge Road between Johnsonville and Makara Beach - big slip.
• Devon St, Aro Valley - large branch down covering one lane.
• Lonsdale Cres, Kilbirnie - slip spilling out onto the road and up against a car.
• A slip has left only one lane open on Haywards Heath Rd (SH58) near the intersection with Old Haywards Rd.
• The Transport Agency is asking motorists to take care on the Rimutaka Hill Road and State Highway 2 between Ngauranga and Melling, and at Petone.
More than 1000 properties across Taranaki, Whanganui and Raglan had power cut, mostly due to fallen trees on the lines, Powerco said.
Taranaki was the worst hit with more than 500 homes without power.
Powerco operations manager Phil Marsh said it hoped most properties would be restored by the end of the day.
About 60 homes in Upper Hutt were without power because of slips on Akatawara Road.
MetService said there was a "moderate" risk of thunderstorms for northwest Nelson, northern Wellington, the Kapiti Coast, Horowhenua, Taranaki and Waitomo during Monday morning.
Lightning strikes in the Capital this morning, with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in force. This watch will ease but thunderstorms are expected to continue in Kapiti, Taranaki and Waitomo today so be sure to keep up to date with the latest warnings here https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^KL pic.twitter.com/f9rJOTwddE
— MetService (@MetService) July 8, 2018
5:55AM UPDATE
— NZTA Wellington (@NZTAWgtn) July 8, 2018
Paekakariki Hill Road remains CLOSED this morning due to fallen trees. Please use SH1 or SH58 and take extra care. ^EL
https://t.co/oU0d3wrQpr
SH58 HAYWARDS, LOWER HUTT - SLIP - 6:10AM
— NZTA Wellington (@NZTAWgtn) July 8, 2018
Due to a #slip, the road is down to one lane and under STOP/GO near the intersection with Old Haywards Rd. Please take extra care and watch your speed. ^EL pic.twitter.com/iSwRPZ5tPP
Heavy rain warnings were still in force this morning for the Tararua Range, Buller, Nelson, the Marlborough Sounds, the Richmond Ranges, Westland.
On the West Coast, SH6 Murchison to Inangahua Junction (SH69) was closed overnight because of high river levels.
In Marlborough, SH63 Renwick was closed between the intersection with SH6 and Anglesea Street due to flooding.
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