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Roadworkers stand either side of a two-metre gash ripped by floodwaters across SH5 at Marshall’s Bridge, near Glengarry, Hawke’s Bay.
Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington
Contingency plans are in place in the eastern districts, in case evacuations are needed over the next two days.
MetService said Hawke’s Bay could expect 150 to 200mm of rain about the ranges and also north of Hastings – including the Esk Valley area and the Wairoa District. Rain to 75 to 100mm was expected elsewhere in the region. Heaviest falls were likely from 3pm today with peak rates up to 30mm an hour possible.
An orange warning is in place for Gisborne until 2am on Saturday, with 80mm-130mm of rain forecast and the heaviest periods possibly reaching up to 25mm an hour, especially in thunderstorms.
As a precaution, 64 households were evacuated in Tokomaru Bay on Thursday night due to the risk posed by a debris blockage that had created a dam on the Mangahauini River.
Civil Defence Controller Ben Green said even moderate rainfall could dislodge the dam.
Coromandel Peninsula’s orange warning was until 4am on Saturday with 100mm to 140mm of rain forecast, at rates of up to 40mm an hour in thunderstorms with possible downpours.
A severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, is for the period until 10pm Friday.
MetService said there was a moderate risk of localised severe thunderstorms producing downpours of 25-40 mm an hour through to Friday night, which could cause surface flooding, flash flooding and slips.
Follow the latest with RNZ’s live updates:
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