Heavy rain to hit Norht Island's east coast. Photo: Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
Civil Defence in Gisborne is on alert for the second time in a week, with another bout of heavy rain forecast to sweep across the region Saturday afternoon.
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tai Rawhiti. Thunderstorms are also possible.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz says 100mm of rain was dumped on Tai Rawhiti earlier in the week.
"We are asking the public drive to the conditions, look after yourself, and most importantly, make sure you listen to all our Civil Defence messages as we update you."
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Wairoa just before 11.30am on Saturday.
"These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the south, and are expected to lie near Wairoa and Frasertown at 11.37am and near Wairoa, offshore [Hawke's] Bay and Frastertown at 12.07pm. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain."
MetService on Saturday morning also said thunderstorms in Bay of Plenty were "expected to become more widespread later this morning or during the afternoon and spread to southern Coromandel Peninsula".
"From late morning until tonight, some of these thunderstorms may become severe, bringing localised downpours with intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour."
From 12pm Saturday and for the next 22 hours, Gisborne-Tai Rawhiti could expect up to 150mm of rain, especially in the ranges, and thunderstorms are possible.
A similar heavy rain warning has been issued for Hawke's Bay north of Napier from 9am Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
Up to 120mm of rain is expected and there is also a risk of thunderstorms. Metservice says the heavy rain will ease south of the Wairoa District on Saturday night.
MetService heavy rain warnings for the North Island's east coast on January 3. Photo: MetService/Screenshot
Further South in the Ruahine Ranges, a heavy rain watch put in place on Saturday morning was quickly lifted.
"However thunderstorms are expected today and some of these thunderstorms could produce localised warning amounts of rain," MetService said just before 10.30am.
Heavy rain over the Christmas/New Year period saw people attending the annual Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne having to wade through mud, as torrential rain struck.
Meanwhile, the Horowhenua District Council has activated of the Mayoral Relief Fund to support residents who have been financially impacted by the recent severe weather and prolonged power outages across the district.
MetService says weather conditions should ease by Monday, with a ridge of high pressure forecast over the country, which would make the risk of severe weather minimal.
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