In response to the storm alerts issued over the King's Birthday weekend, Council activated Marlborough's Emergency Management team on Sunday and fine-tuned forecasts from MetService.
Council broke down flooding prospects and heavy rain conditions as follows:
- Between 3am and 6am Tuesday, high water levels are expected in the Pelorus River (up to 1600 cumecs), which is likely to result in flooding at Dalton’s Bridge on SH6. Local roads in the Rai/Pelorus area could be affected by flooding tomorrow, Monday.
- There is the potential for prolonged rainfall into Tuesday morning as the weather system may stall over the southern Richmond Ranges, resulting in up to 3,500 cumecs in the Wairau River.
- Council des not expect serious flooding issues in Spring Creek or elsewhere on the Lower Wairau, although Council Rivers engineers will keep a close eye on the river works site at Giffords Road.
- Northbank Road (22km up from SH6) may see flooding on Tuesday morning.
- With the upgrade to the Anderson’s Floodway, Council is not expecting major flood issues at Wairau Valley township, but there may be localised flooding there.
Council offered as general advice:
- Avoid road travel especially along SH6 in the Havelock/Pelorus/Canvastown area overnight on Monday and into Tuesday. Roads may be flooded and/or closed.
- Be wary of slips and avoid travel in Western Marlborough and from Nelson and St Arnaud (SH6 and SH63) on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
- Keep up to date online on Marlborough District Council channels, via Floodwatch and NZTA’s communications channels
- Respect any road closure signs and do not attempt to drive through floodwater
- Change your travel plans for this weekend if necessary.
