Another round of severe weather is forecast to hit today in both the North and South Islands, with travellers urged to “drive to the conditions” when heading home from the long weekend.
Yesterday, the forecaster said an active low pressure system would sweep over large areas of the country from this afternoon into Tuesday, bringing rain and severe gales just as holidaymakers were likely to be heading home.
A state of emergency remained in place for Southland, Clutha District, and the Kaikōura District as nearly 8000 properties in the lower South Island were without power following last week’s weather event.
In a 4pm update, Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) said around 2500 properties remain without power in Clutha. Power was restored to more than 900 properties in the district on Sunday.
“Power has been restored to Kaitangata, Ōwaka, Taieri Mouth and most of Lawrence. Huge progress has been made between Ōwaka and the Clutha Valley. Additional resource is coming to help restore power to the district.”
Meanwhile, all water and wastewater plants in the Clutha District are expected to be operational by the end of the day, Otago CDEM said. Many of the plants are currently running on generators.
“Water tanks remain available in towns where needed. A boil water notice is in place for most of the district, except Balclutha, Kaitangata, Wangaloa, Milton and Waihola.”
Flights cancelled in and out of Wellington
Twenty-seven flights in and out of the capital have been cancelled as strong winds are expected to continue into the evening, Air NZ chief operating officer Alex Marren told 1News in a statement.
Among the cancellations were “seven scheduled flights proactively cancelled this evening in anticipation of continued strong winds”.
“Flexibility is in place for customers travelling to or from Wellington today, allowing them to move their flight within 48 hours of their original booking if they wish.”
Ferry delays possible
Cook Strait ferry sailings are “running as scheduled”, StraitNZ chief commercial officer Will Dady told 1News.
“We’ll be keeping a close eye on the weather but don’t expect disruption at this stage.”
A KiwiRail spokesperson told 1News delays were possible.
“There may be some delays to the ferries due to the weather, but we’re not expecting any cancellations at this stage.”
‘Wet and windy conditions’ across the country
MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer told 1News there would be “wet and windy conditions” across the country today.
“Obviously that varies by how much depending on where you are, but the places that are looking the wettest are those sort of in the central, more western areas. Places like Buller and Grey, and the Western Ranges… as well as Waitomo, southern Waikato, through to Tongariro, as well as Taranaki National Park,” Hillyer said.
“So it’s those, again, central, west, or western areas that are exposed to that heavy rain, as well as any mountainous areas through there.”
Heavy snow, severe gales in ‘significant’ Labour Day storm – watch on TVNZ+
On top of that, she said windy conditions were likely to batter the central parts of the country, similarly to last week’s wild weather event.
“It’s actually more the eastern side, similar to last week, similar sort of reasoning with the northwesterlies coming down over the ranges and sort of accelerating.”
Places like Wairarapa and the Tararua district have a strong wind warning out today and that picks up this afternoon, bringing some “severe gale northwesterlies”.
A strong wind watch was also in effect for Canterbury High Country and the south of Marlborough, as well as for Banks Peninsula.
Hillyer said there was also a “plethora of road snow warnings that we’ve got out for a lot of the higher mountain roads in the South Island”.
“General advice with those is they can be obviously very disruptive to travel. So anyone travelling around for Labour Day in the South Island today should keep the journey planner page from NZTA app,” she said.
‘Winter’ returns to some Otago state highways
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has issued area warnings on some state highways in Otago as the predicted significant weather system moves up the South Island.
Road users have been warned to travel with caution amid “winter driving conditions” on State Highway 87 from Mosgiel to Kyeburn, and on State Highway 85 from Alexandra to Palmerston.
“There are no highway closures so far due to today’s weather event,” an NZTA spokesperson said.
“However, conditions may worsen in some areas of the South Island through the rest of the afternoon and evening, so people should plan ahead and consider delaying travel where warnings are in place.”
Full watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
The eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty – 22hrs from 6pm Monday to 4pm Tuesday.
The central North Island hill country from southern Waikato to Tongariro National Park – 12hrs from 4pm Monday to 4am Tuesday.
Taranaki Maunga – 11hrs from 2pm Monday to 1am Tuesday.
The ranges of Grey and Buller, also Tasman west of Motueka – 12hrs from 9am to 9pm Monday.
Tararua Range – 12hrs from 2pm Monday to 2am Tuesday.
The Richmond and Bryant ranges, including the Rai Valley – 10hrs from noon to 10pm Monday.
Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and north of Arthur’s Pass/SH73 – 9hrs from 9am to 6pm Monday.
The ranges of the Westland District north of Haast – 13hrs from 9am to 10pm Monday.
Heavy Snow Warning – Orange
Canterbury High Country south of SH73, Queenstown Lakes District about and north of Wanaka, and Central Otago about and north of Ranfurly – 9hrs from 1pm to 10pm Monday.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Marlborough about and north of Cape Campbell – 8hrs from 2pm to 10pm Monday.
Wairarapa and the Tararua District – 9hrs from 4pm Monday to 1am Tuesday.
Wellington – 9hrs from 3pm to midnight Monday.
Chatham Islands – 9hrs from midnight Monday to 9am Tuesday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland – 7hrs from 10pm Monday to 5am Tuesday.
North Otago – 10hrs from noon to 10pm Monday.
Heavy Snow Watch
Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago not covered by a warning – 9hrs from 1pm to 10pm Monday.
Strong Wind Watch
Taranaki, Taihape, and inland Whanganui – 7hrs from 3pm to 10pm Monday.
Nelson/Tasman north of Kohatu – 5hrs from 11am to 4pm Monday.
Kapiti – 6hrs from 6pm to midnight Monday.
Canterbury High Country north of SH73, also Marlborough south of Cape Campbell – 8hrs from 9am to 5pm Monday.
Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, and eastern Canterbury Plains from Rangiora to the Rakaia River mouth – 4hrs from 8pm to midnight Monday.
Northland – 7hrs from 10pm Monday to 5am Tuesday.
Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, especially near the ranges – 8hrs from 6pm Monday to 2am Tuesday.
– Additional reporting by Haley Doig
