MEDIA RELEASE
 

 
Severe weather continues
For immediate release: 24 May 2010
 

Environment Bay of Plenty is encouraging farmers to move any stock grazing near rivers to higher ground, with further heavy rain forecast for the region.

Environment Bay of Plenty Rivers and Drainage Group Manager Ken Tarboton said while the amount of rain was manageable so far, the operations team was organised to respond if rivers began to rise.

“Our staff are continuously monitoring river levels around the region and are on standby to deal with any flooding,” Mr Tarboton said.

“We’re asking people to be vigilant and encouraging them to be cautious, particularly around low-lying areas and waterways.”

The latest weather report received from the Metservice forecasts 140-180mm of rain for the western Bay of Plenty and 100-140mm for the eastern parts of the region, with 40mm to 100mm expected to fall in low lying areas by midnight tonight. The rain is also expected to be accompanied by northeast gales in exposed places.

Heavy rain is expected to ease by tomorrow, but wet weather is forecast for the rest of the week.

For updated information, visit Environment Bay of Plenty’s website at www.envbop.govt.nz and click on the live monitoring link to see updates of river and rainfall levels around the region.

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