MetService is predicting more intense rainfall on the West Coast on Thursday as a slow moving front between Westland and Fiordland is forecast tomove northwards.
On Wednesday afternoon, MetService said from 200mm to 350mm of rain had already fallen on the West Coast since 10am Tuesday but warned more was on the way.
West Coast Emergency Management group controller Te Aroha Cook on Wednesday sought to reassure the community in a social media post.
"This is a long duration event. We continue to work across the district with partner agencies to prepare for any impacts this weather system may have on our region," she said.
"There will be rain overnight, but our primary concern lies during daylight hours tomorrow."
The Waiho River sitting above 8m as rain hits the West Coast on 10 April, 2024. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Westland District Council has issued a precautionary boil water notice on the water supply for the township of Franz Josef, saying the storm has affected its water treatment plant.
Orange heavy rain warnings are in place in the following areas:
- Fiordland: up to 150mm of rain is expected from 8pm Wednesday to 6pm Thursday
- Canterbury High Country: up to 350mm of rain is expected from 8pm Wednesday to 6pm Thursday
- Southern Lakes: up to 200mm of rain from 8pm Wednesday to 6pm Thursday
- Southland: up to 100mm from 6am Thursday to 12am Friday
- Marlborough / Nelson: up to 150mm in the Bryant Range, also inland Marlborough west of Blenheim and north of the Awatere River from 9am Thursday to 6am Friday
- Nelson: up to 250mm in Tasman northwest of Motueka from 6am Thursday to 3am Friday
- Westland: up to 300mm on top of what has already fallen from 8pm Wednesday until 9pm Thursday
- Taranaki: up to 250mm from 12pm Thursday to 9am Friday
- Buller: up to 120mm from 6am Thursday to 12am Friday
The latest weather information is available on the MetService website.
On Wednesday, agencies were working together to prepare for possible flooding.
SH6 between Fox and Franz Josef Glacier towns was closed most of Tuesday due to a slip caused by the heavy overnight rain. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) sent specialist crews to the West Coast from Canterbury. Fifteen members were sent to Franz Josef, including a Specialist Water Response team and Urban Search and Rescue.
FENZ said they had plans in place in case they needed to send more resources to other parts of the country.
The severe weather is expected to shift north towards Nelson on Thursday, then towards the North Island on Friday.
Westland District Council is making sandbags available to those in Hokitika who have been identified as likely to be the worst affected by surface flooding and cars causing bow waves. Members of the community in the settlement of Okārito, which is half an hour from Franz Josef, came together to provide sandbags for low-lying properties there.
NIWA warned coastal areas face an additional threat due to king tides coinciding with high well.
The risk would peak around midnight Wednesday and midday on Thursday, it said.
Waka Kotahi asked motorists to avoid SH6 between Makarora and Franz Josef townships overnight because it was closed until 10am on Thursday.
NZTA journey manager for Otago and Southland Nicole Felts said Muddy Creek, north of Makarora on the Otago side of SH6, would cause major issues if its banks were to break, which was why the road was closed overnight.
Motorists are being advised to avoid any unnecessary travel.
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