In Nelson, SH60 from Riwaka to Takaka has a warning in place for heavy rain, and in Canterbury parts of SH73 and SH7 have warnings of strong winds, meaning care was required by all high-sided vehicles and motorcycles. NZTA issued several road warnings in the South Island for heavy rain. Heavy rain warnings were in place for many of those areas through to tonight, with some spots expecting to receive up to 300mm of rain. The heaviest rain was expected in the western and southern districts of the South Island and also about the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers. MetService advised that Arthur's Pass (SH73) could get up to 12cm of snow, Porters Pass (SH73) up to 10cm, the Lindis Pass (SH8) up to 8cm and the Crown Range Road just 1cm. Road snow warnings were in place for several South Island highways from early tomorrow throughout the day. Heavy snow was expected about northern parts of the Canterbury high country above about 800 metres overnight, with lesser amounts down to about 500m, affecting higher roads and passes in this region. The rain was expected to spread slowly east over the South Island today, with a cooler southerly change behind it that could bring snow to some places. The schools closed are: Whataroa School, Haast School, Ross School, Kokatihi-Kowhitirangi School, Kaniere School, Westland High School, Hokitika School and St Mary's School Hokitika.Ĭasey advised parents to check school early tomorrow or check websites or Facebook pages to see if they will open. We encourage parents to keep in contact with schools and early learning centres tomorrow following today's severe weather.' 'The school and road closures affects 900 students,' she said. Ministry of Education deputy secretary sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said local staff have been in contact with the West Coast schools and have offered support where needed. Students were being taken home in a police escort this afternoon, but some were facing the prospect of a night at school thanks to road slips. hckx1tXb2s- West Coast, NZ November 7, 2018Įight schools were closed on the West Coast due to the heavy rain and flooding, the Ministry of Education told The New Zealand Herald. The strongest winds recorded so far were 80km/h at a station near Lumsden in Southland, and 65km/h at Le Bons Bay on Banks Peninsula.ĪREA WARNING DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER:The raod between SH 6 HariHari to Franz Josef has been closed due to flooding.Please follow and for updates on today's weather across the South Island. Gusts could reach 150km/h in exposed parts of Canterbury, and 130km/h in other affected areas. Strong winds were ramping up about the Canterbury high country, Wellington and southern Wairarapa today. The Rimutaka Hill Road (SH2) linking Wellington and Wairarapa remains closed due to high winds.

In New Plymouth, all flights were grounded due to problems caused by heavy fog and low visibility. NZTA also issued a caution for motorists using SH6 between Queenstown and Lumsden in Southland, saying surface water had pooled in the southbound lane near the Oxford St intersection.Ī caution for flooding was also put in place for SH90 from Tapanui to McNab SH1 Juction. State Highway 6 from Hokitika to Haast and State Highway 73 Arthur's Pass between Arthur's Pass township and Jackson were likely to remain closed overnight.ĭrivers in the area are being urged by NZTA not to travel unless it is absolutely essential. The conditions have caused parts of roads on the West Coast to crumble and fall away, forcing the NZTA to close main highways.

The MetService says Hokitika copped more than 800 lightning strikes in a 20-minute period this morning. He said the first alarm is when it hits a level that is considered a flood, the third is extreme and if that goes off they will have some problems 'for sure'. Westland District Council mayor Bruce Smith said the second alarm for the river had been activated, and there was still another few hundred millimetres of rain forecast. The Hokitika River was threatening to sweep away a campervan parked on one of the braided river's islands. Meanwhile, Otago Boys' High School pupils have been marooned in a hut in the Mt Aspiring National park after heavy rains made a creek impassable.Īreas of the West Coast have been drenched, the Ivory Glacier receiving 391mm of rain - more than Clyde, Cromwell and Alexandra saw in the entire of 2017.

The wet and wild weather system has bashed the West Coast, forcing the closure of schools, roads and potentially stranding students for the night. Bridge collapse at Goat Creek, just east of Otira.

West coast flights grounded