Widespread rainfall continues across region

For immediate release: 23 January 2011, 8:30pm, update number 5

Rain continues to fall across the Bay of Plenty with satellite forecasts indicating an improvement from midnight as a low pressure system moves across the upper North Island.

The Bay of Plenty Emergency Management flood room is operational and staff are monitoring the situation and attending to field issues as they arise. Eastern Bay of Plenty rivers are steadily rising and the Waimana, Waioeka, Mangorewa and Kaituna rivers have passed second warning levels, while the Whakatāne and Rangitāiki rivers hav e passed first level. (These levels are Council operational triggers for river levels and pump station operations.) No issues have been reported on the major river schemes.
The MetService has issued a severe weather warning and is now forecasting 100mm to 200mm for the Bay of Plenty. At this stage Council has recorded rainfall averages for the past 24 hours of:

• Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty 130mm;
• Rotorua 200mm to 250mm;
• Whakatāne 150mm;
• Eastern ranges 160mm to190mm; and
• Ōpōtiki 100mm.
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Bay of Plenty Regional Council Community Relations Manager Bronwyn Campbell said although rivers were continuing to steadily rise there were no significant issues, however staff would continue to monitor the situation throughout the night.

“High sea levels produced by strong north to northeast onshore winds accompanying the rain could restrict rivers flowing into the sea and this will be closely monitored with high tide in Tauranga at 11.06pm and Whakatāne at 10.44pm,” Ms Campbell said.

“With the current forecast, it is expected that our rivers will peak from early tomorrow morning through to early afternoon tomorrow.

“Lake levels in Rotorua, Rotoiti and Ōkāreka are close to their maximums and may pass through these limits this evening. The Ōkere Gates in Rotorua have been opened to maximum flows from Lake Rotoiti into the Kaituna River.

Trust Power has reduced spilling through the Matahina Dam from 428 cumecs down to 364 cumecs in response to downgraded inflows. These continue to be closely monitored.

Ms Campbell said that at this stage the river level situation was in hand and any minor problems were being dealt with quickly and were under control

“We understand that there is some localised and surface flooding throughout the region, however this is been attended to by local Council staff,” Ms Campbell said.

Regional Council staff will continue to monitor the situation and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management staff are on standby.

People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings

ENDS

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