Heavy rain over the Southern Alps could cause flooding and slips

March 26, 2019

NIWA’s Chris Brandolino told Breakfast by this time tomorrow the heavy rain should pass.

Heavy rain over the Southern Alps could causing flooding and slips in the South Island.

NIWA's Chris Brandolino told TVNZ1's Breakfast we'll see the "apex" of the heavy rain today but by tomorrow it should pass.

"High elevations, for example, the Southern Alps could receive well over 600mm, 700mm of rainfall.

"And in places closer to the coast, generally south of Hokitika down toward Haast they'll see 100mm which in itself is pretty significant."

He says all of this rain has to make its way down to the sea.

"That's going to go through the rivers and the catchments and that's what we have to watch out for in terms of impact so heavy rainfall may lead to flooding."

He warns people if they live near a river or a stream that tends to flood to keep an eye on it.

He also says with this amount of rain, slips will likely occur.

"I think we’ll see more slips with heavy rainfall maybe washing out roads particularly over the higher terrain," he says.

"The other facet to this is wind, this moisture is being transported and it’s being transported by strong wind, so that wind may be gusting upwards of 100km/h and that may lend itself to some tree damage increasing things like slips and road closures with debris falling on it."

Nelson and Marlborough who have had very dry periods are not expected to see much rain, he says.

"Any rainfall this amount is not a good thing anyway even if you’re running a severe drought, it’s too much as once.”

He says this weather will move north.

"It’ll be sharp but short.  By this time tomorrow we’ll be in clean up mode for many areas but heavier rain will be done."

SHARE ME

More Stories