LIVE UPDATES: Red Heavy Rain Warning in Whananaki

We will be updating this blog with the latest information on the storm impacts in Whananaki and the surrounding District.

FLOODING WATCH

TOMMO'S CORNER - OPEN

HALVERSON BRIDGE - OPEN

MARAE - OPEN

OTONGA - OPEN

PIG'S HEAD ROAD - OPEN

KAIIKANUI ROAD - RESTRICTED & NO PILOT VEHICLE THURSDAY

WEDS 9:48PM - Wind up to 50 kp/h the last hour and pretty consistently so, forecast remains up to 120 kp/h easterlies overnight.  The rain will build overnight and we expect downpours to peak on Thursday afternoon.

Whakapaumahara marae has been opened up to act as a refuge for those who feel unsafe.

A red heavy rain warning is in place until 4am on Friday morning.

We will update this page overnight if needed, otherwise we will return at 6am Thursday.

WEDS 8:18PM - Wind has been building, currently an easterly of 65 kp/h as measured at the General Store, however will be stronger at the coast.

A red heavy rain warning means there is a threat to life, likely to be major flooding and slips.  If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is, we were under red heavy rain warnings in the January floods.

A red heavy rain warning means there is a threat to life, likely to be major flooding and slips.  If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is, we were under red heavy rain warnings in the January floods.

So far we’ve had around 20mm of rain this afternoon.  Metservice are expecting up to 320mm of rain between now and 4am on Friday morning.  We’re also expecting gale force winds of up to 120 kph from tonight.

Civil Defence is asking you to be prepared.  If you see flood waters and can safely do so, you should evacuate before the water rises so high you can no longer do it.  If you come across flood waters, do not enter them.  You're not just putting your own life at risk, but the lives of the people who have to come and try to rescue you.

Metservice is forecasting consistent rain for the next 30-or-so-hours - the kind of rain that floods our roads.  We’ll be keeping an eye on the regular places - Tommo’s Corner, Halverson Road, the Marae, Otonga… plus of course Pigs Head Road, the secondary route out of Whananaki.

Civil Defence have the hall and the fire station primed to be refuge centres.  They will be opened if needed.  You’ll remember in January, these are places you can go to stay the night if you feel unsafe, or somewhere you can go to dry off, have a cup of tea and discuss war stories.

Live Blog will be updated from 6AM Thursday morning, or sooner if needed.