Posted: 07 July 2005
Heavy rainfall update no. 2
Rain weary Northlanders are expected to today finally get some respite from bad weather that has dumped a month’s worth of rain on the region this week.
Although a heavy rain warning remains in place for southern parts of Northland, MetService forecasters expect the front responsible for recent downpours to weaken and shift slowly south today (Thurs 07 July).
Graeme MacDonald, the Northland Regional Council’s Emergency Management Team Leader, says forecasters are predicting further rain or showers for the region, with one or two heavy falls this morning south of Whangarei.
“From Waipu to Albany the MetService is expecting another 20 to 30mm could fall in some places in the three to five hours from 9am today, with maximum intensities up to about 10mm per hour. However, conditions should generally ease this afternoon.”
Mr MacDonald says rainfall overnight was less than anticipated with no reports of injury or significant property damage.
Regional Council staff will continue to monitor the region’s rain swollen creeks and rivers but Mr MacDonald says while these will remain at higher levels than normal for the next day or two, most are already receding.
Council figures show in the period from midnight Sunday until 8am today 259mm of rain had fallen on the Puhipuhi area, north-east of Whangarei, 175mm on the Glenbervie Hills, and almost 160mm on both the Western Kerikeri and Maungaturoto areas.
Whangarei received 143mm over the same period and Kaitaia 121mm.
Mr MacDonald says to put those figures in context, the typical monthly rainfall for July in Northland varies from about 120mm in the Far North to about 250mm over the Puhipuhi area.