Kia Orana koutou,

Below is a summary of the impacts we have been made aware of in Northland overnight and early this morning. Firstly, apologies for the tardiness of the reporting, the key information required about future weather actions took longer to ascertain.

CIRTICAL ISSUES

• Currently all state highways are open – with the exception of Kaeo having some flooding on the roading in vicinity of the Kaeo fire station. Approximately a 1m clear lane down the middle of the road allowing vehicles to pass.
• Numerous surface flooding, small slips and trees down in the Far North and Whangarei – contractors are on site and clearing these as quickly as possible.
• Power outages across the region, with key effects in the Far North – particularly towards the Bay of Islands area.

WEATHER

MetService update as 1020 25 July 22 For further information click here.

MetService currently anticipate a further 60 to 90 mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen about north-eastern areas north of Whangarei, and 40 to 70 mm of rain elsewhere over the next 12 hours. Peak intensities of 10 to 15 mm per hour, but 20 mm per hour possible in localised areas this afternoon. Additionally the wind warning is still in place until 7:00 pm Monday, of Severe northeast gales gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.

POWER

Top Energy – Main issues are fallen trees across the Far North. Of note there is power interrupted to Watea, Haruru Waitangi and Paihia areas. Control Centre switching to minimise outage areas and currently field teams are patrolling supply lines to the Haruru Sub Station that supplies areas – 1752 Customers in these areas affected.

Northpower –  Several faults on the High Voltage electricity Network. We are expecting further faults for as long as the storm persist. Currently most faults are in our Southern & Dargaville areas. Field crews have been deployed, to isolate / make safe and repair, but the current conditions are not ideal. There is likely to be Low Voltage Network and customer’s service lines faults. Likely to have all HV faults repaired tonight based on the weather event passing this afternoon. (Shown as the four outages in the included picture).

 

ROADING

New Zealand Transport Association (NZTA)

• Some trees have been reported coming down overnight up but nothing of significance.
• Currently all state highways are open.
  • Note – SH10 through Kaeo currently has a 1m wide lane clear of any water. NZTA anticipate with the outgoing tide the road access should be fine.

Report from Northland Transport Alliance (NTA)

Far North:

• Mangatoetoe road is currently closed due to a fallen tree – awaiting contractors to clear.
• There are 2 slips on Puketona Road (SH11) between Haruru and Paihia and the road is down to one lane Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Surface flooding on Old Bay Road Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• SH1 Ngataki to Kaitaia – reports of strong and damaging wind gusts Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Flooding on Omaunu Road in Kaeo and on SH10 near the BP Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Flooding on Oruru Road Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Peria School is closed today due to flooding and unsafe weather conditions Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)

Whangarei:

• Ngunguru Road, One Lane Open due to fallen tree Contractor Report
• Harris Road, One Lane Open due to fallen tree Contractor Report
• Whangarei Heads Road, Road Open, surface flooding and slip blocking ¼ lane Contractor Report
• One Tree Point Road, Road Open, due to fallen tree Contractor Report
• Cullen Road, One Lane Open, overslip Contractor Report
• Mill Road, Road Open, surface flooding Contractor Report
• Russell Road, Road Open, due to fallen tree Contractor Report
• There is a slip on Ngunguru Road on the town side of the passing lane Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Old Russell Road – patches of flooding across the road and small slips Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)
• Tree down on Cemetery Road, Maunu blocking the left hand lane near the SH14 entrance Information reported through MORE FM NORTHLAND (Facebook)

Kaipara:

• No callouts overnight for Kaipara Contractor Report.

Police

Nothing to report

FENZ

Main responses have been to trees down, power lines arcing and potential roofs lifting – nothing that is of major concern or in any one concentrated areas

District Updates

Far North: Currently reports of waves effecting the Paihia township along with power to wastewater sites in the same area currently being effected. Additionally, there are unconfirmed reports of slips and flooding on the following routes:

• Mangatoetoe Road is closed due to a fallen tree. Contractors are now on site working to clear road.
• Two slips on Puketona Road (SH11) between Haruru and Paihia and the road is down to one lane.
• Surface flooding on Old Bay Road.
• Flooding on Omaunu Road in Kaeo and on SH10 near the BP.
• Flooding on Oruru Road.

Whangarei: Currently only experiencing road closures as listed below. Please take extra care today and expect outages / delays.

• Whananaki North Road – flooded – low spot 8-10km in from highway (not passable).
• Ngunguru Road, One Lane Open in places due to fallen trees and slips. Crew are clearing.
• Harris Road, One Lane Open due to fallen tree. Crew are on their way to clear.
• Marua Road, One Lane Open.
• Cullen Road, One Lane Open, overslip.
• Whangarei Heads Road, Road Open, surface flooding and slip partly blocking a lane. Crew are on their way.
• One Tree Point Road, Road Open, fallen tree.
• Mill Road, Road Open, surface flooding.
• Russell Road, Road Open, fallen tree.
• Cemetery Road, Road Open, fallen tree, caution advised.

Kaipara: No issues at this stage.

NRC HYDROLOGY

The information below is correct as at 0930h 25 July 22.

All of our sites within the network are now reporting as normal except for our primary gauge at Oruru (the backup is still running, we will attempt to get this onto the web in place of the primary).

Rainfall totals last 24 hours :

River Levels:

Water level thresholds surpassed:

Oruru at Saleyards is at 4292mm this is above the threshold of 3500mm.

• Whakapara at Cableway is at 7151.4mm this below the first alert level of 7500mm. The alert for flooding at Puhipuhi is 9000mm. Hydrology will be monitoring this closely.
• Waiaruhe at Puketona is currently at 3530mm this is above the first alert of 3500mm but below the alert for flooding 4300mm.

===========================
HEAVY RAIN WARNING – ORANGE
===========================
Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface
flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be
hazardous.

Area: Northland
Valid: 12 hours from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Expect a further 60 to 90 mm of rain to accumulate on top
of what has already fallen about north-eastern areas north of
Whangarei, and 40 to 70 mm of rain elsewhere. Peak intensities of 10
to 15 mm per hour, but 20 mm per hour possible in localised areas
this afternoon.

============================
STRONG WIND WARNING – ORANGE
============================
Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured
structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided
vehicles and motorcycles.

Area: Northland
Valid: 9 hours from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Severe northeast gales gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.

If you have any agency updates/reports of weather related incidents that occur over the day, please forward to the CDEM Duty officer northlandgecc@nrc.govt.nz by 1600 Monday (25 July 22).

We also encourage all stakeholders to keep up-to-date with severe weather information and to ensure that appropriate staffing capacity is maintained.