Roads were blocked and water treatment plants damaged after a storm and torrential rain in New Zealand‘s Northland region on 17 to 18 July.
Whangarei District Council reported 8 roads closed due to landslides and 9 closed due to flooding. Whangarei recorded 214.2 mm of rain in 24 hours on 17 July and a further 44 mm the following day, according to
New Zealand’s MetService.
Fire crews were called out to 212 incidents. Civil Defence Northland said houses and businesses around the region were flooded and 2 Civil Defence Centres were opened in Whangarei for residents who have had to leave their homes as a result of flooding.
Whangarei residents were asked to conserve water after the city’s water treatment plants were “struggling to cope with the intense rainfall”, Whangārei District Council said.
New Zealand’s MetService said “Some incredible rain totals from across Northland last night, with several gauges exceeding 250mm of rain in 24hrs, including over 150mm in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero, and 56.8mm at Kaikohe in just 1 hour.”
Social Media
Some incredible rain totals from across Northland last night, with several gauges exceeding 250mm of rain in 24hrs, including over 150mm in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero, and 56.8mm at Kaikohe in just 1 hour. Track the rain here: https://t.co/F9fZPWgf0f ^RK pic.twitter.com/NDUmL3MUXv
— MetService (@MetService) July 17, 2020
