More rain prompts flood alert on Canterbury rivers

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Predicted heavy rain in an already drenched high country has prompted flood warnings from Environment Canterbury (ECan) this weekend.

Farmers and holidaymakers near rivers have been warned to either stay away or watch out for a rapid rise in water levels.

More rain is expected to fall in the South Canterbury High Country today – the third heavy rain event this week.

The previous rainfalls dumped up to 200 millimetres of rain into the catchments of the Waitaki and Rangitata Rivers.

ECan southern region duty flood controller Tony Henderson said flood warnings were issued for the Rangitata River when river flows reached between 700 and 800 cumecs, which had happened on Monday and again on Thursday this week.

"The Metservice has issued another heavy rain warning for the High Country this evening.

"This rain will fall on catchments that are already drenched and the two rivers are likely to again reach our flood warning trigger levels over the weekend," he said.

Mr Henderson said the two rivers of concern were the Waitaki and Rangitata.

He said even though it was nice and sunny in Timaru, strong nor-west wind and rain would be feeding the rivers in the high country and people needed to be vigilant about possible rapid rises in water levels.

ECan had been contacting camping grounds and people likely to be near the rivers to warn them. Updates continue to be put on the ECan website.

"People who are in or near the Waitaki and Rangitata Rivers are warned that water levels may rise quickly and to stay away from the river beds.

"Campers are asked to watch for rapidly rising water levels around camp sites close to the Waitaki lakes and the Rangitata river over the following 48 hours."

The Christchurch City Council yesterday closed the Old Waimakariri Bridge because of concerns over the high river level caused by heavy rain upstream. The closure did not affect the main Waimakariri Bridge on State Highway 1.

In May last year the Kurow Bridge was closed to traffic after coping with 1544 cubic metres of water per second flowing down the river.

As of last night the Waitaki at Kurow was flowing at 400 cumecs and the Rangitata at Klondyke flowing at 270 cumecs.

Mr Henderson said at this stage there were no concerns for the safety of the main road Rangitata Bridge."The water level would have to get pretty high for concerns there."

Overnight rain on Thursday pushed Lake Pukaki to capacity level and forced Meridian Energy to spill water from the lake.

Spokesman Alan Seay said last night Lake Tekapo was at about 95 to 96 per cent capacity.

In January last year the Benmore dam spilled water for the first time in nearly five years. This followed spilling from Lake Tekapo and Pukaki and water was also spilled further down the Waitaki Valley at Aviemore.

- © Fairfax NZ News