New Zealand – Over 300 Homes Damaged as More Flooding Hits North Island

A further wave of torrential rain drenched areas around Auckland, Northland and Waikato Peninsula over the weekend 10 to 12 March 2017.

The heavy rain was brought by a storm system dubbed “The Tasman Tempest” that has affected northern areas for the last week. Last week many of the same areas of the North Island recorded high levels of rainfall – some as much as 250 mm in 24 hours.

Over the six day period, Whangamata recorded 475 mm of rain, which is around the same amount it would normally see for the whole of autumn.

Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) said on Sunday 12 March that Titirangi recorded 65mm of rain in just 1 hour.

New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said that some areas saw over a month’s worth of rain fall in a 24 hour period 10 to 11 March. Coromandel recorded 130mm, Rotorua 97mm and Auckland 91mm. An average March rainfall ranges between 75 to 110mm in Auckland.

According to latest reports from emergency responders, 321 homes in Auckland have suffered flood damage. Power was cut to almost 4,000 homes, and nearly 600 emergency calls were made. According to local media around 50 people have been forced to leave their homes and are currently staying in temporary accommodation. Ten people had to be rescued from flood water by emergency crews.

During the storm, CDEM warned people:

“Stay out of the flood water as waters can be contaminated, have unusually strong currents or be unexpectedly deep.”

Flooding on several main roads hindered access to the Auckland suburbs of Maraetai. Beachlands and Clevedon, which saw flooding for the second time in a week. Landslides were reported on Waiheke Island and at Kawakawa Bay

Social Media

Rainfall totals for Auckland from the MetService weather radar between 10am and 4pm today. ^SWF. pic.twitter.com/kZaZJTBzZW

— MetService (@MetService) March 12, 2017

In the last hour Titirangi has had 65mm of rain, it's predicted to continue for another hour remember never drive through floodwater

— Auckland CDEM (@AucklandCDEM) March 11, 2017

https://twitter.com/NiwaWeather/status/840314257514217472

The river took over the road. Two rescued. Building at risk. Cars stuck #newlynn #flood #nzpol pic.twitter.com/vHsmIB3PaV

— David Cunliffe (@DavidCunliffeMP) March 12, 2017

Massive flood damage in central #NewLynn. #nzpol #flood pic.twitter.com/NM3zuvyO4b

— David Cunliffe (@DavidCunliffeMP) March 12, 2017

Neighbours have lost their back fence, car is following it. pic.twitter.com/IykrK8SfpG

— parsley72 (@parsley72) March 11, 2017

Tourist Road, Clevedon, is currently closed. This is why. The water is over a metre deep. pic.twitter.com/T622GhseRJ

— Auckland CDEM (@AucklandCDEM) March 10, 2017

Impressive rainfall rates (one hour and three hour) in the #Auckland region leading to flooding. #TasmanTempest pic.twitter.com/xzfdmwwrC3

— Niwa Weather (@NiwaWeather) March 12, 2017

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