New Zealand braces for more flooding from Tropical Cyclone Cook

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

By Adam Douty, AccuWeather meteorologist

April 9,2017, 12:27:18PM,EDT

 

New Zealand will face heavy rain and a renewed danger of flooding this week, on the heels of once-severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

The turn to drier weather that has allowed flood waters to recede and aid in cleanup efforts over the weekend will not last through the coming week week.
The combination of a slow-moving storm system and tropical moisture from Tropical Cyclone Cook will once again swamp the country with rounds of downpours. The South Island will face rounds of rain during Tuesday and Wednesday, while the North Island could see inundating rainfall from Cook late in the week.

Portions of the South Island that endure the heaviest and most persistent rainfall through midweek will be subjected to 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) of rainfall. It is not out of the question for locally higher amounts, especially in the higher terrain.
While this alone will be enough to raise the concern for flooding, heavier rain may be in store for the North Island late in the week as moisture from Tropical Cyclone Cook is pulled to the south across the country.
If moisture from Cook moves directly across the North Island, it is possible that 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain will fall in localized areas. Even just a glancing blow from Cook's moisture could bring in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) of rain to already saturated areas.

The already saturated ground will not be able to absorb much rainfall, and swollen streams and rivers may quickly overflow their banks. Conditions will be exacerbated where flood waters remain.
Residents in flood-prone areas should prepare for new evacuation orders. Communities from Auckland to Edgecumbe, Rotorua and Gisborne should be on alert for heavy rain and the potential for flooding late in the week.
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Flooding from once-severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie was still ongoing as of Sunday. Due to the flooding, 1,600 residents had been displaced on Edgecumbe and were not allowed to return home over the weekend. The Whakatāne District Council stated on Sunday that some residents will be able to return to their property on Monday, though there will still be no wastewater services.
Flood waters were still being pumped away and sanitation concerns remained due to sewage system failures, the council added.

Jet boats drive through the flooded streets of the North Island town of Edgecumbe in New Zealand, on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Andrew Warner/The Bay of Plenty Times via AP)

Edgecumbe has a population of roughly 1,600 people and lies along the Rangitaiki River which experienced a one-in-500-years flood event, according to the council.
The major flooding resulted after Debbie unleashed more than a month’s worth of rainfall earlier this week. After barreling into Australia as a severe tropical cyclone, Debbie was a powerful non-tropical storm when it lashed New Zealand.
Nearby Whakatāne recorded double its monthly rainfall in 60 hours, New Zealand’s MetService reported.
Kopeopeo, located just west of Whakatāne, topped Debbie’s rainfall total in New Zealand with 321 mm (12.64 inches). North of Auckland, Whangaparaoa was inundated with 44 mm (1.73 inches) of rain in just one hour on Tuesday evening.