MetService meteorologist Heather Keats told Ryan Bridge TODAY that this year’s spouts of severe weather had been “above and beyond” compared to usual weather patterns, with all eight red rare warnings warranted.
“Kaikōura got the three months of rain they should get in July, in less than three days.
“Their average is 60.8mm total for July and they got 165mm in less than three days.”
She said that while the region expected more rain today, it won’t have the same force behind it.
Kaikōura and Waitaki districts remain under a state of emergency.
PowerCo is reporting 570 unplanned power cuts across Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui and the Wairarapa as the regions are lashed with the wild weather.
Adverse weather has closed highways on both islands.
State Highway 35 near Martinborough closed overnight, with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi warning of concern around rising river levels at the Waihenga Bridge, meaning all bridges into Martinborough in South Wairarapa are now closed.
SH1 and Inland Route 70 at Kaikōura remain closed because of flooding, while SH8 from Fairlie to Twizel and SH85 from Kyeburn to Palmerston are also closed after heavy snow and ice.
Air New Zealand warned Wellington customers last night that there may be disruptions to their flights today because of the capital’s rain and wind.
A handful of regional flights out of Wellington Airport have been cancelled, including to Timaru, Blenheim, Picton and Nelson, however, it’s unclear whether these are weather-related.
A Wellington Airport spokesperson told the Herald that while there had been “no disruptions yet, there could well be during the day due to high winds”.
Bluebridge Ferries has also alerted passengers that sailings have been cancelled today, with high swells forecast through the Cook Strait.
Keats said there may be a silver lining, with weather expected to settle across most of the country after later today and tomorrow morning.
“There’s a ridge of high pressure so we’ll see beautiful weather Saturday and Sunday.
“It does mean though we will see severe frost, even hoar frost, in some parts of the South Island.”
The temperature was expected to drop to 3C in Auckland overnight Saturday.