Care urged on roads after flooding, snow

Floodwater in The Glen caused problems for motorists yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Floodwater in The Glen caused problems for motorists yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
The Water of Leith rages between Clyde and Forth Sts. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN
The Water of Leith rages between Clyde and Forth Sts. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN

Surface flooding and snow that affected roads around the South yesterday continue to cause problems this morning, but conditions are easing in most places.   

The Dunedin City Council website shows GladfieldRd-Dukes Rd to Bush Rd is closed because of flooding.

Further afield, the Queenstown Lakes District Council says roads are icy across the district this morning and grit trucks are out.

The Crown Range is open with light snow and ice, and care is advised.

Fog and ice through the Kawarau Gorge (SH6) have prompted warnings from the New Zealand Transport Agency, which advises there has been a crash on the Shotover bridge.

The Lindis Pass (SH8 Omarama-Tarras) has reopened this morning but the NZTA says ice is still a problem.

Danseys Pass road remains closed owing to snow, and motorists travelling in the Naseby/Kyeburn area are urged to take care as there is increased ice risk there.

The NZTA advises that  SH90 at Pomahaka Bridge has reopened.

The Clutha Distric Council is checking roads in West Otago and advised at 5pm that MacFarlane Rd was still closed and will be overnight.

In Southland, the following roads are closed because of flooding: Mataura Island Titiroa Rd, Holz Rd, Fleming Rd and Coal Pit Rd, while all others have been reopened.

There is also flooding on SH16 between Nokomai and Fairlight, and snow and ice on SH8 between Omarama and Cromwell.

SH6 between Haast and Makarora is down to one lane as storm damage is repaired and cleaned up.

Surface flooding on SH94 between Gore and Lumsden has been resolved. 

Earlier story 

The flooding in South Dunedin included Ravelston St, St Kilda, one of the worst hit streets in last June's floods. 

North Dunedin, Mosgiel and parts of the central city were also affected.

Dunedin City Council staff were inspecting areas and clearing blocked drains across the city yesterday.

Council roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring said contractors had been clearing leaves from mud-tank grates over the past six weeks. These "exacerbated'' the problem and were an "ongoing issue'' in autumn.

The council was aware of several gardens and garages being flooded.

Group manager Water and Waste Laura McElhone said the piped system generally coped well, although some intake screens blocked, contributing to surface flooding, despite preventive checks on Sunday.

The Otago Regional Council was continuing to monitor river levels in Otago.

Its engineering, hazards, and science director, Gavin Palmer, said the Water of Leith peaked at 35cumecs but was falling.

Silver Stream in Mosgiel was also receding after hitting 95cumecs.

In June last year, these two waterways peaked at 100cumecs and 129cumecs respectively, Dr Palmer said.

The Pomahaka River and the Clutha River in South Otago were higher than normal and the Clutha passed the first warning stage level.

There were higher-than-normal flows in other South Otago rivers, he said.

North Otago rivers were starting to rise late yesterday.

The Fire Service attended seven flood-related callouts yesterday.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said 62mm of rain fell in Dunedin city in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday.

It was a "significant amount'' for Dunedin where 40mm in 12 hours could cause flooding, she said.

Dunedin could expect showers to clear today, she said.

A snow warning was in place last night for areas over 500m.

Raineffects hydrologist Dave Stewart, of Dunedin, said the rain was "significant'' given the lack of it recently.

He reported 124.5mm of rain from about midnight Saturday to 4.30pm yesterday."With that amount of rain in such a short amount of time, if the ground was wet, we would have had a lot of problems,'' Mr Stewart said.

Overnight snow followed by temperatures below zero were expected for the second morning in a row in the Queenstown area today.

Forecasters were predicting a fine and clear day after a second major snowfall late yesterday.

Queenstown ski areas Coronet Peak and the Remarkables received their first major snowfalls for the year yesterday and Sunday.

More than 70cm had fallen at the Remarkables base area by yesterday afternoon, while Coronet Peak had received up to 15cm at its base. Cardrona Alpine Resort has a base of 40cm of snow, of which 35cm fell yesterday, and 5cm of snow fell at Treble Cone.

The first flight of the day into Queenstown Airport yesterday was cancelled as a result of poor visibility. The Air New Zealand flight, from Invercargill, was diverted there from Christchurch on Sunday night because of poor weather.

The Crown Range road between Queenstown and Wanaka was closed by heavy snow on Sunday afternoon for the first time this year. 

Queenstown Lakes District Council communications manager Michele Poole urged motorists to take heed of advisory notices for the road.

A dozen vehicles slid off the road and another 20 were stranded on Sunday after drivers ignored warnings about chains being essential.

State Highway 90 at the Pomahaka Bridge was closed yesterday and remains closed this morning. 

Caution was also advised to motorists travelling in the Naseby/Kyeburn area as there was increased ice risk here. 

Flooding was reported yesterday on SH83 from Oamaru to Kurow, SH97 from Mossburn to Five Rivers, SH6 from Nokomai to Fairlight and SH6 from Haast to Makarora last night, and drivers were advised to take care.

The Lindis Pass between Omarama and Tarras was closed owing to snow, and motorists were advised to use chains on Arthurs Pass, Lewis Pass and Porters Pass. State Highway 85 from Kyeburn to Palmerston was closed to towing vehicles and chains were deemed necessary.

Drivers on SH8 from Omarama to Cromwell and SH83 from Oamaru to Kurow were being advised to take care due to ice, the release said.

- Additional reporting Guy Williams

rhys.chamberlain@odt.co.nz

 

 

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