MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the Wairoa District, as stormy conditions are set to descend upon the region starting Monday. The forecast indicates heavy rain and thunderstorms, likely to intensify in the afternoon and evening. The weather watch, which may escalate to a warning, covers areas east of Lake Waikaremoana and stretches to Gisborne, running from 4 pm Monday until 6 pm Tuesday.
The Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne, hosting around 17,000 campers, is at the center of this weather alert. The area had already endured a month’s worth of rain and high winds on Boxing Day. Additionally, a severe thunderstorm watch was issued just before 9 am Monday for Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Marlborough, and Nelson, effective for an eight-hour window from 1 pm.
These thunderstorms are expected to bring localized downpours of up to 50mm per hour and possibly significant hail accumulations. Such conditions pose risks of flash flooding, particularly in low-lying regions near water bodies, and large hail could potentially damage crops, glasshouses, vehicles, and infrastructures. Drivers in the region are warned of hazardous travel conditions due to potential flooding, slips, and poor visibility.
