Heavy Rain Warning Issued For Eastern Bay

An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for parts of the Bay of Plenty, with heavy downpours expected to continue through Wednesday.

MetService is forecasting between 100 and 130 millimetres of rain about and east of Whakatāne, with the warning in place from 11.00pm tonight until 10.00pm Wednesday.

Thunderstorms and localised downpours are also possible, with rainfall intensities of up to 40 millimetres an hour.

MetService warns streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions possible.

The rest of the Bay of Plenty, west of Whakatāne, is under a heavy rain watch until 7.00am Wednesday.

People are advised to clear drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas, and take care on the roads.

The orange warning has a minimal chance of being upgraded to red.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Eastern Region Senior Maritime Officer Daniel Bramley said river levels are already high following rain over the past few days, with debris beginning to come down the river.

“The Flood Team has forecast the river may not reach boats-out level tonight, however, it may reach the first warning level," he said.

“Due to the forecast rain tomorrow, the river will most likely reach boats-out level once that water comes downriver from tomorrow night."

Meanwhile, a boil water notice has been issued for those connected to the Rūātoki water supply.

Whakatāne District Council is advising residents to bring all water to the boil before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or preparing food.

Anyone using an electric kettle or jug should allow it to complete a full boiling cycle.

The council said heavy rain can wash fine sediment and particles into river water, making it cloudy. This affects the effectiveness of the ultraviolet (UV) treatment system, which is one of two treatment barriers used to make the water safe.

Chlorine treatment is continuing to operate, and regular water testing is being carried out.

However, because the UV treatment is currently affected and not working properly, the boil water notice has been put in place as an additional safeguard.

As rainfall and river flows ease, the water is expected to clear, allowing the UV treatment to work effectively again.

The notice will be lifted once both treatment barriers are operating as intended and testing confirms the water is safe to drink without boiling.