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 - UNKNOWN @ FRI 7AM

JUBILEE ROAD - OPEN

HAILES ROAD - OPEN

KAIIKANUI ROAD - RESTRICTED via PILOT VEHICLE

FRI 7AM

Roads are reopening including Whananaki North Road to SH1. Small debris on road, however no slips and no flooding except a small amount (passable) at Otonga.

Sun has risen in Whananaki. It's a beautiful morning, sun is out, great drying-out weather.

THURS 8:02PM

Cars are getting through Whananaki North Road at the marae as of 7pm on Thursday night as floodwaters recede for low tide.  Several Whananaki locals have been sheltering at the marae from fierce wind, heavy rain and flooding.  They were able to make it out a couple of hours before low tide.  High tide is overnight at 2:42am and we may see the flooding return with the tide.

There are many other roads closed, including State Highway 1 at Whakapara heading North.  Pigs Head Road, Kaiikanui Road, Whananaki South Road, Whananaki North Road at Tommo’s Corner remained closed as of Thursday evening with water over the road. 

Jubilee Road is passable with care as of 8pm on Thursday night.

FENZ is reminding people not to enter floodwaters - you could get trapped and put others lives at risk trying to save you.

Fire and Emergency were called to a car in the water at Pig’s Head Road just after midday today.  FENZ said the people were located and are now safe. 

Whananaki School is again closed tomorrow.  There will be no school buses in the district tomorrow either, so high school kids you get the day off as well.

The rain has eased and sometimes even stopped, but the odd downpour remains likely for the rest of the evening.  The red rain watch is in force until 4am tomorrow.  

The message from Civil Defence - stay home, stay safe, stay connected.

THURS 9:48AM - ALL ROADS IN AND OUT OF WHANANAKI CLOSED.

Whananaki Fire Station is OPEN as a refuge centre for those in Whananaki

Whakapaumahara Marae is OPEN as a refuge centre for those stuck on Whananaki North Road trying to get home.

110mm of rain was recorded overnight in Whananaki South and there is extensive flooding across Hailes and Whananaki South roads.

Around 60mm of rain has been recorded between 4am and 10am at Whananaki General Store.

The Metservice is forecasting up to 40mm of rain per hour today. High tide is at 2:04pm and we will be watching this closely as flooding is already up at the marae making Whananaki North Road impassable. At high tide this will be worse.

THURS 8:09AM - No mail delivery today.

Jubilee Road under water but passable with 4x4.

THURS 7:32AM - Whananaki School is CLOSED today.

There is flooding at Witehira's near the bottom of the cutting but at 7:15am was still passable but it is unlikely with the forecast rain to remain so.

THURS 5:32AM - The rain is here, but so far so good.  Just over 20mm of rain has fallen since 4am and winds have topped 70 k/ph overnight in the village with average wind speeds of around 50 k/ph.  Wind will be stronger on the coast.

All roads are open and passable.

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.