People trapped near Katikati due to flooding

Flooding on Walford Road, Aongatete. Photo: Monique Wellington.

Flooding at Walford Road Aongatete in the Western Bay of Plenty near Katikati is trapping people at home as the floods cover the one-way bridge. 

"We are all stuck at home as we have a one-way bridge as our only way out," says SunLive reader Monique Wellington. 

MetService says there is an active front lying over the Bay of Plenty and it is slowly moving eastwards. 

 

Flooding of Walford Road, Aongatete. Photo: Monique Wellington.

"For Bay of Plenty east of about Te Puke, Waikato southeast of about Tokoroa, the Taupo area from the township northwards, and Tairawhiti/Gisborne about and north of Te Puia Springs there is a moderate risk of  severe thunderstorms with localised downpours of 30 to 40 mm/h," says a MetService spokesperson.

"The risk should ease from the west during the morning.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

Flooding of Walford Road, Aongatete. Photo: Monique Wellington.

"A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

"People in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor for possible Severe Thunderstorm Warnings."

Flooding of Walford Road, Aongatete. Photo: Monique Wellington.

For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the Civil Defence Get Ready website.

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz

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