More rain expected in flood-stricken areas, but the worst is over

Sunday, 18 July 2021

The extent of the flooding in Wesport on the West Coast in July 2021 is revealed in this aerial video.

While about 1000 Westport residents have not yet been able to return to their flood-ravaged homes, MetService has confirmed more rain is expected over the upper South Island later this week.

The West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough regions have been inundated with heavy rain since Friday, which has led to river banks overflowing, roads being closed, and thousands of people evacuated.

The West Coast town of Westport arguably shouldered the brunt of the flooding, with more than 2000 residents – about half the town – having to leave their homes.

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi announced on Sunday the Government would provide $300,000 to the Buller District Council's mayoral fund to assist with damage repairs.

* Hundreds spend night in evacuation centres as heavy rain hits parts of NZ

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The Ferry Rd Bridge at Spring Creek in Marlborough, where heavy rain has caused widespread flooding.

According to MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan, some weather stations in the Buller area had recorded more than 300 millimetres of rain since early Friday.

As of 3pm on Sunday, 158mm of rain had fallen in Westport, while Reefton, in inland Buller, received 168mm of rain.

Water lies on flooded racecourse on the edge of Westport.

Corrigan said weather stations higher up in the ranges, towards Murchison and Nelson Lakes National Park, recorded rainfall in excess of 300mm over 60 hours.

On Sunday afternoon, rain in the Buller district was easing and residents could expect a dry day on Monday and Tuesday.

But more rain was expected later on Wednesday and Thursday as a low pressure system approached from the Tasman Sea and moved northeast over the South Island. The accompanying rain was not expected to be nearly as severe as it had been over the weekend, Corrigan said.

“There is low confidence that rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts in Fiordland, Westland, Buller and the ranges of northwest Nelson on Wednesday.”

In Marlborough, where a state of emergency was also declared on Saturday, Monday was expected to be a mostly dry day with some drizzle in the Sounds early in the morning.

More rain was expected late Wednesday and into Thursday, which could be heavy in some places.

“When we issue severe weather warnings, we correspond with the relevant regional councils beforehand,” Corrigan said.

“People should continue to keep an eye on MetService’s severe weather outlook where any warnings or watches are continuously updated.”