Roads
State Highway 2 Napier to Wairoa is closed due to major slips in the Devils Elbow and Waikouau Hill areas and minor slips elsewhere.
The road is expected to remain closed for most of the day and earliest estimates for its re-opening are 1400-1600 hours Wednesday 7 July 2010.
Listen to the radio for more information or before setting out check -
Rivers, rainfall and flooding issues
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council river level monitors have triggered annual alarm levels at 5 sites – Ruakaturi, Wairoa River, Hangaroa (all in the Wairoa district), Mangaone Stream at Rissington (inland from Napier) and the Esk River at Berry Road.
Rainfall in the region over the past few days has been significant in some areas with average figures of:
Hill country in Mahia area 250-300mm
Kotemaori and Waikaremoana 180-210 mm
Wairoa 100mm
Ruahines 100-160mm
Southern Hawke’s Bay 50mm but up to 150mm on coastal hills
MetService have advised that a deep low centred east of Gisborne is moving slowly southwards.
The strong southeast flow over the North Island is expected to turn south to southwest today. Rain has eased this morning over much of Hawke’s Bay. However a weather warning is maintained for the area north of Tutira where rain will still be heavy at times today with a further 40-60mm possible. Further rain is also possible between 1800 hrs Wednesday and 0000 hours Thursday in Central Hawke’s Bay.
Coastal
The weather system means that the following swells may be expected:
South of Cape Kidnappers –4-5 metre south –easterly swell continuing until weekend
Haumoana/ Te Awanga area – 2-3 metre swells until the weekend
Mahia – south facing coasts – potentially 5-6 m swells overnight on Thursday |