More bad weather on the cards

Just as Kaipara begins to dry out and clean up from last week’s storms the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research warns that we probably haven’t seen the last of the bad weather.

Dr James Renwick, NIWA science leader, climate variability and change, told Dargaville and Districts News that while the recent storms had been unusually severe, this winter’s weather had produced a "blocking" pattern that increased the chances of lows developing in the northwest Tasman and tracking down over the country.

"Our forecast models suggest this is likely to continue through at least the first half of August."

Although Kaipara appears to have escaped lightly, compared to many areas, two doses of high winds and heavy rain, days apart, have left their mark.

Northland Regional Council hydrologist Dale Hansen says during first storm its station at the Dargaville Boating Club recorded winds averaging between 65kph and 79kph with one gust of about 119km. In the second, they averaged about 45kph with a gust of around 75kph.

Rainfall figures provided by Kaipara District Council show Dargaville receiving 43mm over July 26 and 27. By contrast, 95mm fell in Whangarei in just over 12 hours. During the 36 hours from midnight on July 28 to 12am on July 30 Dargaville recorded 34mm compared to Whangarei city’s 73.5mm.

Last Thursday Kaipara Emergency Support Officer Jim Goodland was heaving a sigh of relief, saying that despite taking a severe buffeting the district fared remarkably well.

The national Fire Service Centre had been inundated with calls but only ten incidents were reported to Kaipara rural fire services between July 25 and 30. "This was a lot fewer than in the big July storm last year and when you compare our rainfall figures we got off very lightly." he said.

Mr Goodland said while huge swells had been reported on the coast, fortunately the storms had coincided with a period of fairly small tides.

A number of slips were reported and there was significant flooding in the major rivers, inundating farmland, including the Kaihu Valley and low lying land around Tangiteroria.

Kaipara District Council’s northern roading portfolio holder, Richard Alspach, found himself a victim by becoming flood-bound when Pukehuia Road flooded on the Monday and Tuesday. It re-opened on Wednesday only to go under again on Thursday and Friday.

Mr Alspach said Kaipara roads got off fairly lightly in terms of damage but there had been a number of slumps which would be costly to fix. "I urge people to drive with care until we get these sorted out."

The area north of Dargaville was severely buffeted, especially during the second storm, with a barn on Proud’s Road blown away, taking power lines and a pole down in the process. Also, a carport disintegrated around a car which was left unscathed.

The Donnellys Crossing Volunteer Fire Force’s depot had a door blown in, followed by a side and back wall blowing outwards. Fortunately no crew or vehicles were inside at the time.

"I have never seen wind like it and am surprised there wasn’t a lot more damage," says controller Bob Donald.

Dargaville Fire Brigade had ten call-outs, all but one during the first storm. They included trees over power lines, two roller doors blown in, the power supply cable ripped off a house at Arapohue where a large plastic water tank was also blown onto the road. Also a macrocarpa landed on an unoccupied utility, causing only minor damage.

"From what I hear we fared a lot better than some areas," said station officer Michael Ross.

- © Fairfax NZ News