A number of businesses in Te Awamutu have been in clean-up mode after being flooded following a torrential downpour in the Waikato town yesterday.
Robert Harris owner, Anita Zhou, said water suddenly came down from the roof. Photo: Andrew McRae
Heavy rain and hail struck in the afternoon causing stormwater drains to overflow, as water poured through building roofs.
Most businesses had reopened today, but some were not reopening until tomorrow.
Robert Harris Cafe was not opening until Friday. Owner Anita Zhou said water suddenly came down from the roof.
"It was pouring down from the shelving and it was so heavy," Zhou said. "It started leaking a bit but then it was uncontrollable. We were using buckets to catch the water."
Luckily the building was insured, Zhou said.
Yvonne Heyster from the barbershop next door said she had never seen rain so heavy.
"It was like thunder and it was just torrential. I can see why Napier flooded in five minutes if there was rain like that for a whole day. It would just cause so much damage.
"The windows at the back of the shop blew out."
She said the damage was still being assessed today.
At the Central Cafe water quickly rose to about 60cm out the back and started to come inside.
Chef, Emma Peterson, said the clean-up went smoothly.
Robert Harris cafe is opening on Friday after a flood closed the building. Photo: Andrew McRae
"We just had bucket, mops, towels and everyone got stuck and stayed late just to clear it all out," she said.
Metservice meteorologist Hordur Thordson said hail stones of the size seen yesterday in Te Awamutu weren't uncommon.
"These hailstones are formed when there is strong upward wind in the atmosphere that holds them for long periods of time, which means it gives them time to grow to a certain size," Thordson said.
He said there was some more bad weather on the way for some parts of the North Island tonight and into tomorrow.
