Weather watch 17/18/19 September
Monday 19 September UPDATE 3.51pm
The Kāpiti Coast is drying out today after a weekend of torrential rain that resulted in slips and surface flooding in a number of spots across the district.
Kāpiti Coast District Council Infrastructure Services Group Manager Sean Mallon says staff and contractors were kept busy over the weekend responding to more than 75 requests for help related to the bad weather between Friday night and midday Sunday.
“Requests ranged from help with pumping out garages, outhouses and sections through to blocked drains, fallen trees and minor slips.”
Operations crews were also kept busy checking on the condition of the roads prone to slips in wet weather.
Slips and debris on the Paekākāriki Hill Road, Maungakotukutuku Road and Reikorangi Road resulted in minor delays and the Ōtaki Gorge Road was closed at Blue Bluff due to a slip at Roaring Meg.
Mr Mallon says crews have been working hard throughout the day to assess the damage and clear debris from local roads.
“The slip on the Ōtaki Gorge Road is almost cleared and we expect to have the road open later today,” Mr Mallon says.
Otaihanga Domain and Otaraua Park were both inundated with water and the Council made the decision to close both the Domain and the Park early on Saturday morning. The Raumati Escarpment track was also closed as a precaution.
Mr Mallon said the water has subsided at both the Domain and the Park but Otaihanga Domain remains closed today while the team works to assess the damage to walkways and cycle tracks.
“Works to restore walkways and cycle tracks will be undertaken over the coming weeks once the ground dries out.
“Parks and walkways across the district are still pretty soggy underfoot so we urge people to take extra care if they are out and about over the next few days.”
Sunday 18 September UPDATE 10.57am
The Kāpiti Coast is drying out this morning after more than 36 hours of persistent rain that resulted in slips and surface flooding in a number of spots across the district.
Kāpiti Coast District Council Infrastructure Services Group Manager Sean Mallon says the rain eased overnight and river and stream levels had started dropping.
"This morning our main focus is on checking the condition of the roads we know are prone to slips in wet weather."
Mr Mallon says Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed at Blue Bluff due to a slip at Roaring Meg, about 2km before the DOC campground. There are also minor slips on Paekakariki Hill Road and Maungakotukutuku Road but the roads remain open.
"We estimate our staff and contractors responded to around 70 requests for help related to the bad weather between Friday night and Sunday morning. They ranged from help with pumping out garages, outhouses and sections through to blocked drains, fallen trees and minor slips. To put that figure into context that's about one tenth the number of calls we received during the floods in May 2015."
Sunday 18 September UPDATE 9.56am
News just in from our roading team ... Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed at Roaring Meg - which is about 2km before the campground - because of a slip. There's also debris on other stretches of the gorge road, so please avoid that area today if you can.
If you've called us to report flooding on your section that isn't putting your home at risk we'll be in touch early in the new week to help get it sorted. Our operations crews are taking a well earned break today!
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 6.25pm
Kāpiti Coast District Council is urging motorists to take care on Kāpiti’s rain-drenched roads as darkness falls.
Infrastructure Services Group Manager Sean Mallon says Kāpiti had managed fairly well so far, although there had been large areas of surface flooding and some minor slips. There was still the potential for further disruption over the next few hours.
“It’s pretty soggy out there with all of the rain we’ve had and it looks like there’s more to come in the next few hours. We could see more slips and minor flooding and we’ll continue to monitor things over night, especially as the high tide arrives around 10pm.
“Motorists on rural roads in particular should take extra care tonight as slips, fallen trees and drop outs can occur without warning when we’ve had a decent dump of rain.”
Mr Mallon also encouraged residents to avoid rivers and streams and nearby parks and walkways, and urged residents in flood-prone areas to keep a close eye on their properties and to call Council on 0800486486 if they needed help.
“Council staff and contractors have been working hard all day and will continue to be on stand-by to deal with any further problems tonight,” he says.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 6.23pm
Our roads remain rain-drenched and we've had large areas of surface flooding. There could be more rain in the next few hours - meaning the potenital for more disruption. If you're travelling on rural roads in particular tonight take extra care as slips, fallen trees and drop outs can occur without warning when we’ve had a decent dump of rain.
If you're getting round on foot please stay away from rivers and streams and nearby parks and walkways.
If you live in a flood prone area it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on your property. Give us a call on 0800486486 if you've got concerns. Our staff and contractors have been working hard all day and will continue to be on stand-by to deal with any further problems tonight.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 5.20pm
Our crews are continuing to keep an eye on the weather in Kāpiti.
There's some surface water on Emerald Glen Road, near Waterfall Road, where warning signs are in place.
There's also some slips on Mangakotukutuku Road, Ōtaki Gorge Road and Reikorangi Road that crews are working on to clear.
State Highway 1 is now cleared and traffic delays should have eased.
We’re continuing with our monitoring this evening, so will be keeping an eye on rainfall and river levels.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 1.17pm
All this rain has been keeping our operations crews busy this morning. If you're venturing out today please take care, especially near:
State Highway 1 from North of Waikanae to Paraparaumu - there are ongoing delays in both directions due to the incident at Elizabeth St, Waikanae and the NZ NZ Transport Agency is advising people to avoid travel if possible. Delays on Te Moana Road and Elizabeth Street are also likely.
Te Horo Beach Road - the Mangaone Stream is spilling over the road
Wairongomai Road, Ōtaki - a gabion basket wall has slid so a drop is evident. Cones and signs are in place
Ōtaki Gorge Road - there's a small slip and trees down at Devil's Elbow and some debris on the road at Blue Bluff and Roaring Meg.
Te Kupe Road and Donovan Road, Paraparaumu Beach - streets flooded
There's also minor surface flooding at sites across the district.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 11.11am
Take care on the roads folks - it's slippery out there. We've had reports of small slips in some locations and there's a crash at the intersection of SH1 and Elizabeth Street in Waikanae that's causing delays.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 10.10am
It looks like this rain might hang around for a few hours yet. We've closed Raumati Escarpment track as a precaution - please steer clear of this area.
Saturday 17 September UPDATE 9.12am
We've closed Otaihanga Domain and Otaraua Park and have folks out checking a few other spots.
Please stay safe and keep away from rivers and streams and walkways and parks near them. If you spot surface flooding or over flowing drains you can let us know on 0800486486.
