MetService issues Severe Weather Warnings, Red Warning for Buller and Westland
UPDATE
July 15 4:44pm
A rare Red Weather warning has been issued for Buller and Westland from 9pm tonight until early Saturday.
The current warning in place forecasts between 300mm and 400mm of rain to fall in the region, almost twice its monthly rainfall. Peak rates of 20-30mm per hour is set to fall on Friday afternoon.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said that there would be significant impact on West Coast communities and transport links to other regions, with the possibility of roads becoming impassable and possibly isolating communities.
"We are asking people to act now to keep themselves and their whānau safe and to heed the advice of authorities," adds Ferris. "Anyone with travel plans in Westland and Buller on Friday and Saturday are urged to keep up to date with road information from Waka Kotahi NZTA. This is especially relevant due to the school holidays bringing more families to the West Coast."
______________________________________________________________
MetService has issued several severe weather warnings for regions in the South Island and central New Zealand.
An active front is moving slowly across southern and central New Zealand today, bringing with it heavy rain in western areas and northerly, gale force winds for central regions.
In a statement, MetService said rain across Westland to northwest of Nelson is set to be significant, with the potential for flooding and disruptions for commuters.
Severe northerly gales are forecast in Wellington, with the agency informing residents to expect power outages and damage to insecure structures.
The Orange Weather Warnings affect the following areas:
Orange Rain Warning:
- Nelson west of Motueka from 6am Friday. Valid from 6am Friday
- Buller. Valid from 1pm Thursday
- Western ranges of Marlborough including the Richmond and Bryant ranges. Valid from 4pm Friday
- The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers from the Rakaia river northwards. From 11pm Thursday
- Westland north of Fox Glacier. Valid from 6pm Thursday
- The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers between Mount Cook and the Rakaia river. Valid from 4am Friday.
- Westland south of Fox Glacier. Valid from 9pm Thursday
Orange Wind Warning:
- Taranaki Region: gusts up to 120kmh in exposed places. Valid from 8pm Friday
- Marlborough Region: gusts of 120kmh. Valid from 1pm Friday
- Wellington, and Wairarapa south of Featherston: north to northwest severe gales gusting 140 kmh in exposed areas. Valid from 3pm Friday
For more information and to keep up to date with any developments, visit the MetService's warning page.
Neighbourly will update this message as further information is released from the MetService wire.
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
-
89.1% Yes, it's fair
-
10.3% No, it's unreasonable
-
0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.
Loading…
