Due to the severe weather of the past 24 hours, trees have fallen and roads have been closed on the Lower North Island.
A strong wind guard is in effect for Whanganui, Manawatū, Kāpiti-Horowhenua, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds until 9am Wednesday.
Also for Hawke’s Bay, south of Hastings and Wairarapa, including the Tararua district, there was a strong wind watch until 4pm today.
Northwest winds can rise to severe storms in both areas in exposed areas.
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Off the coast of Kāpiti and Porirua from Otāki to Cape Terawhiti and on the coast of Wairarapa from Tūrakirae Head to Cape Palliser, a heavy swell warning is in place until 12:00 on Wednesday.
Waka Kotahi Transport Agency has announced that State Highway 53 is closed at Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough due to rising water levels.
Alex Beijen/Delivered
Waihenga Bridge on State Highway 53 was closed on Wednesday due to high water. (File photo).
State Highway 56 is closed near Opiki between Tane Rd and Alve Rd intersections due to flooding.
There is a temporary 50 km/h speed limit on State Highway 2 Kiriwhakapapa, near Kiriwhakapapa Rd due to flooding. Motorists have been asked to pay extra attention in the area.
Masterton District Council recommended road closures at Te Parae Rd and Matahiwi Rd due to slips. The one-lane bridge at Coopers Rd was also found to be impassable.
Motorists were asked to exercise “extreme caution” due to flooding on Stronvar Rd and around Castlepoint. Slips and outages had reduced Pack Spur Rd, Ngahape Rd, Mangarei Rd, Mataikona Rd and Otahome Rd to one lane.
Last night, the Horowhenua District Council recommended closures on Gladstone Rd due to a boom on power lines that would likely take up to two days to clear.
KEVIN STENT
A heavy swell warning applies off the Kāpiti and Porirua coast from Otāki to Cape Terawhiti. (File photo).
The locks of Moutoa would be opened around 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The municipality said on social media that the flooding was less than initially forecast, but the gate opening was still very likely.
In the Carterton district, Dalefield Rd and Thomas Rd were closed last night due to flooding and Kokotau Rd, heading south to Martinborough, was also closed.
Flooding was also reported on Chester, Haringa and Mangatarere Valley Roads.