Those living along rivers in South Canterbury have been asked to keep a close eye on water levels and move supplies as heavy rain and high winds are expected in the region until Tuesday.
MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said the worst heavy rains will fall in Canterbury High Country.
“Over the entire South Island, and certainly in South Canterbury, we’re seeing a significant weather event,” he said.
“It’s possible it could become a red alert event.”
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A red alert is issued when a weather event is expected to be one of the worst possible and will have a significant impact and potentially affect many people. Immediate action is required to protect property, people and animals in the event of a red alert event.
McInnes said they are working closely with Environment Canterbury (ECan) to keep people safe in areas that could potentially flood near riverbeds and streams.
“It is very important for the people in the plains to understand that they may not get any rain in the coming days, but the rain in the high country can cause flooding.
“All the rain has to go somewhere,” he said.
AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/Stuff
Very few people braved the cold to walk their dogs in Caroline Bay on Sunday.
The heavy rain warning for the High Country is in effect from 5:00 p.m. Sunday to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday with possible thunderstorms.
MetService expects 300 to 450mm of rain to accumulate around the main divide with peak rates of up to 25mm per hour and 200 to 300mm within 20 to 30km east of the canyon, especially south of the Rakaia.
Northwest winds are forecast to be strong in exposed areas with gusts up to 150 km/h over the highland and 120 km/h further east. The high wind warning is in effect from 6pm Sunday to 6am Tuesday.
MetService warned that strong gusts of wind could damage trees, power lines and unsecured structures. Driving can be dangerous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
WithService
MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for the headwaters of Canterbury’s lakes and rivers south of Arthur’s Pass for the 44 hours from 5pm on Sunday and a strong wind warning for all of Canterbury for the 36 hours from 6pm on Sunday.
Ecan issued a flood warning on Sunday, saying heavy rains could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly.
“We encourage those with property on rivers that may be affected to closely monitor their own situation and move the stocks away from flood-prone areas.”
Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions can be dangerous, the council said.
EC’s flood manager on duty, Chris Fauth, said they would be monitoring the situation closely.
“Places like the Rangitata Huts should be fine as the estuary looks good and should be able to control the water volume, but the Milford Huts are a bit more fragile.
“We will be monitoring Milford Huts and low-lying farmlands around that area,” Fauth said.
George Empson/delivered
A western arc over Tekapo on Sunday. Temperatures in the Mackenzie fell to record lows on Saturday night, with a record at the Aoraki/Mt Cook airport of -11.6°C.
The regional council would closely monitor all rivers and streams in the Mackenzie district and the Rangitata, Orari, Opihi and Opuha watersheds, he said.
“We will have someone in the control room in the next few days to monitor the situation.”
The rest of the rivers in Timaru and Waimate districts may rise a bit, but were not of immediate concern, he said.
Timaru Civil Defense has issued a notice to all residents of Timaru district warning of the significant weather event expected to bring heavy rains from Sunday to Tuesday.
“This will lead to heavy rainfall inland east of the Southern Alps, leading to increasing river flows affecting low-lying areas.
“The rain could spread further east to foothills or coastal areas. In addition, it is likely that there will be strong northwest winds, possibly up to 150 km/h inland and 120 km/h further east.”
Civil Defense encourages residents of low-lying areas, especially near rivers, to have a plan in case floods should occur.
AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/Stuff
The view from Caroline Bay on Sunday included freshly coated snow-capped mountains.
Mt Dobson business and snow sports manager James Lazor said they had to close the mountain on Sunday due to the conditions.
“It was a tough decision, but the road drift has already started and the wind is expected to increase during the day,” said Lazor.
At the start of the weekend, mountaineers filled the parking lot by 10 a.m., and the Mt Dobson team had to close the mountain to uphill traffic on Saturday.