Caution Over Worsening Weather Conditions

Scoop

6 hours ago

Otago Regional Council is issuing a weather caution around increasing rain, snow and the likelihood of rivers rising in some parts of Central and coastal Otago.
From this evening and across tomorrow until at least 9pm tomorrow night, Metservice is expecting increasing amounts of rain, especially for coastal Otago.
ORC's Manager Natural Hazards, Jean-Luc Payan, says 'While the weather front is still approaching, people need to consider that forecast snow, rain and rising river conditions can change very quickly during the next 24-36 hours with little warning,' Dr Payan says.
(Period covering 9pm this evening through to 6pm Saturday)
The Metservice forecast (at 16:30) now has a heavy rain warning in place for Dunedin and Clutha; between 60-90mm, and heavy rain watch for North Otago; between 20-40mm. There is also a heavy snow watch down to about 400 metres for Central Otago and inland Dunedin and Clutha. Saturday is expected to have some heavy falls, easing in the evening, with strong southwesterlies at times.
Low lying areas which could potentially be affected include parts of the Tokomairaro floodplain including Milton, the Lower Taieri floodplain including Henley, the Lower Clutha floodplain and Middlemarch.
Water of Leith and Lindsay Creek in Dunedin are not expected to overtop their banks.
The Silver Stream near Mosgiel is expected to peak at about 90 cumecs early Saturday afternoon. No overtopping is expected.
The Taieri River at Outram is expected to peak tomorrow evening at about 700 cumecs. Flooding of the unprotected areas downstream of Outram is likely.
The Clutha River at Balclutha is expected to peak at around 1900 cumecs on Sunday morning. Flooding is likely in low lying areas adjacent to the river upstream of Balclutha, and unprotected areas downstream of the township on the Clutha delta.
ORC staff will be monitoring streams and rivers 24/7 for the next 48-hours and staff and contractors will be in the field checking flood bank and drainage assets and pumping stations.
Rural communities should consider stock currently in low lying areas and where feed is stored.
Motorists are being asked to consider the necessity of their weekend travel plans, given the snow falls expected inland of Dunedin, and across Central Otago and parts of northern Southland.
Further river and stream info, ORC's Environmental Data portal https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/maps-and-data/environmental-data/
Before travelling, people are urged to check in with NZTA about road conditions: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago