The Department of Conservation will this morning determine if a code red warning should be issued in the Young Valley area of Mount Aspiring National Park, because heavy rain is posing a possible threat to a landslip dam.
Trampers were yesterday warned to make their way out of the valley, after a high alert flood warning was issued after a MetService warning for heavy rain, which forecast up to 300mm of rain overnight in parts of the Main Divide.
Trampers were told that if they intended to use the area, they should not camp on the valley floor but should move through the Young Valley as quickly as possible.
A landslip dam that formed in the north branch of the Young Valley in September 2007 continued to pose a potential flood risk in periods of heavy rain, and Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centre supervisor Sonya Sawyers said the alert level could be raised to code red today.
