Some residents of Spring Creek, north of Blenheim, have been asked to evacuate their homes from 6am tomorrow morning as a heavy rain warning is in place for the Marlborough region.
An active front has been sweeping across parts of the central North Island and South Island, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, gales and possible flooding, MetService says.
The area is under an orange Heavy Rain Warning which started at 9am this morning and ran until 6pm on Friday.
Up to 150mm to 250mm of rain was forecast with peak rates of 20 to 30mm an hour or more by late on Thursday.
A state of emergency for part of Marlborough was declared by Mayor Nadine Taylor at 5pm today to facilitate the precautionary evacuation of Spring Creek, as well as any other potential flooding issues overnight and tomorrow.
Marlborough Emergency Management controller Richard MacNamara said it was a “dynamic event”.
“All of Marlborough’s emergency and lifelines agencies are up to speed and our response teams are ready to go.
“While the rain forecast remains somewhat uncertain, the weather system does have the potential to stall and deliver additional rainfall on Friday.”
MacNamara said the Wairau River stop bank at Spring Creek was in a “compromised state” and residents had been advised to plan to evacuate their homes from 6am on Friday.
“Spring Creek residents are asked to stay with family or friends — have a grab bag ready and take pets and prescription medications with them.”
Affected streets included Dodson, Hathaway, and March streets, and part of Ferry Rd.
Spring Creek School would also be closed on Friday, due to a combination of weather and staff illness, the board of trustees advised on a social media post.
Earlier in the week, the forecaster issued orange heavy rain watches and warnings for parts of the South Island and the lower North Island into Friday.
1News meteorologist Daniel Corbett said for some places the heavy rain will be “almost off the scale” as some “nasty” weather moves in.
Watch Daniel Corbett’s weather warning on TVNZ+
MetService meterologist Heather Keats told RNZ Canterbury High Country experienced “massive” 250km/h wind gusts overnight.
Wind gusts of more than 120km/h were recorded in Wellington.
Keats said other places experienced 90km/h gusts while some areas also had 10mm to 20mm of rain hourly.
New Zealand Transport Agency urged motorists to take care on State Highway 73 through Arthur’s Pass and State Highway 7 near Springs Junction due to weather.
Earlier, a slip closed State Highway 6 through Haast Pass. NZTA confirmed the road has since reopened.
MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said the Nelson and Tasman region recorded significant rain as high as 25mm/h and should expect “a lot more to fall by Friday evening”.
Northern parts of the South Island were likely to have than a month’s worth of rain before the end of tomorrow.
Thunderstorms were expected in Northland before dawn on Friday and, as the front moved, the risk would spread to other regions of the North Island and top of the South Island.
Overnight into Saturday, the winds would shift southerly, meaning heavy rain in Dunedin and Otago with the possibility of heavy snow above 600m inland, potentially impacting alpine roads.
“Sunday looks like the better day to travel if you’re going away for the school holidays because the severe weather is expected to ease,” Pawley said.
Civil Defence Centre to open tomorrow
A Civil Defence Centre will open at Stadium 2000 in Blenheim from 9am tomorrow to provide community support and information, Marlborough Emergency Management said this evening.
Tuamātene Marae at 2518 State Highway 1, Grovetown will also be open from 7am tomorrow, where hot drinks and kai will be available.
Meanwhile, staff from Council’s Rivers (flood protection) team will monitor the Wairau River overnight.
The next update will be provided after 8am tomorrow.
Full list of watches and warnings
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Taranaki – 18 hours from 9pm tonight.
Tasman District northwest of Motueka – 33 hours from 3am today.
Buller District – 13 hours from 9am today.
Nelson District about and southeast of SH 6 and north of Nelson Lakes, also Marlborough about and north of Seddon (excluding the Sounds) – 33 hours from 9am today.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Marlborough Sounds and Wellington – nine hours from 9am today.
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Heavy Rain Watch
Bay of Plenty and Rotorua – 12 hours from noon today.
Taranaki – 21 hours from 6pm today.
Marlborough Sounds – 33 hours from 9am today.
Nelson and Tasman Districts from Motueka to SH 6, including Nelson Lakes – 29 hours from 10am today.
The ranges of Grey District – 12 hours from 4am today.
Dunedin and North Otago – seven hours from 9am today.
Strong Wind Watch
Marlborough about and south of Seddon – 15 hours until 3pm today.
Heavy Snow Watch
Central Otago and Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River – 11 hours from 11pm on Friday.
