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| Date/time: 30 August 2010 at 09:15 am |
| Issued by: Duty Emergency Management Officer |
Rainfall warnings and observations
There are currently no weather warnings in place. For the most up-to-date weather forecast information, please refer to the MetService.
Observed rainfall
Widespread rainfall through out the region in the last 24 hours with a maximum of 18mm at the Paerata recorder in the Upper Waikato.
For the most up-to-date rainfall information around the region, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Long-term forecast
A mixture of showers and fine spells is forecast for Monday to Friday. Gusty southerlies will turn southeast on Tuesday and ease on Wednesday. Northeasterlies on Thursday and westerlies on Friday.
For the most up-to-date weather forecast information, please refer to the MetService.
Overview of river systems in the Waikato region
Lake Taupo catchment
The water level in Lake Taupo is currently at 356.897 m above mean sea level (0.287 m below the maximum control level of 357.25m). The outflow from Lake Taupo is being managed by Mighty River Power in accordance with the relevant Resource Consents and is currently running at 250 cubic metres. The wetness of the surrounding catchment has been steady with 62 API which is moderate.
For the most up-to-date level of Lake Taupo, please refer to the Mighty River Power website.
Waipa River system
The river levels in the Waipa River system are currently below first alarm warning levels. The wetness of the surrounding catchment has increased following the weekends rain and currently has API of 55 which is moderate.
For the most up-to-date river level information, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Lower Waikato River system
The Lower Waikato River levels are generally below early warning flood alarm levels. Lake Waikare is within it normal operating range and is currently at 5.519m. The gate is currently open at 590 mm. The wetness of the surrounding catchment has increased over the weekend from an API value of 63 to 69 which is high.
For the most up-to-date river level information, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Waihou River system
The Waihou River levels are below flood alarm level. The wetness of the surrounding catchment has been steady with 70API which is moderate.
For the most up-to-date river level information, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Piako and Waitoa River system
Piako River and Waitoa River levels are below first flood alarm levels. The wetness of the surrounding catchment is high at 58API.
For the most up-to-date river level information, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Coromandel River system
Coromandel River levels are below first flood alarm levels . The wetness of the catchments is moderate at 73 API but continues to fall.
For the most up-to-date river level information, please refer to our rainfall and river level webpage.
Environment Waikato emergency management
Environment Waikato emergency management staff are on stand-by to to respond to any river flooding enquiries. If you have any flooding related enquires, please contact the duty Emergency Management Officer on (027) 499 2120 or emo@ew.govt.nz.
Waikato regional civil defence
Civil defence issues in the Waikato Region are managed by the Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
All civil defence issues should be forwarded to your local Distict or City Council. Alternatively, a range of civil defence contacts are provided on the Waikato CDEM Group website.
Further information
There is a variety of information available from both Environment Waikato and other agencies to help to keep the community informed about rainfall and river conditions in the Waikato Region. Some useful links to this information are:
- Rainfall and river level information collected by Environment Waikato are published on our website and are also available through our 0832 Infolines.
- Lake level information for the Waikato River hydro-electric scheme (including Lake Taupo) is available from Mighty River Power.
- Rainfall, lake and river level information for the Tongariro Power Scheme is available from Genesis Energy.
- Current weather conditions, weather forecasts and severe weather bulletins are available from the MetService.
- Wave forecasts are available from NIWA.
- Tidal forecasts are available from NIWA.
- Civil defence information is available from the Waikato CDEM Group or the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
- Information on other geological hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanos, landslides and tsunamis) is available from Geonet.