Late Flooding Follows Storm

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1949, Page 4

Late Flooding Follows Storm

ALTHOUGH the centre of the storm which lashed Northland for two days had passed over Whangarei and flood waters have receded on most roads, no through connection could be made with Kaikohe via the Parakao road this morning. Several stretches of this road, notorious for late flooding, were blocked to such an extent that the Whangarei-bound. bus from Kaikohe was forced to turn back at Stafford’s Bridge, Pakotai, where 4ft of water covered the approaches to the bridge.

A bus from Parakao was able to reach Whangarei, but no traffic could travel -north beyond Langman’s Flat, where the flood water reached 4ft. Although rain fell steadily in Whangarei yesterday and last night the total for the 24 hours to 8 a.m. this morning was only .25in., bringing the fall for the three days of the storm to 5.28 in.

at times. This morning the wind had died down and rain was falling steadily. but not heavily. With the banking up of the tide, flooding is expected to cause trouble, at least of a temporary nature, at Taheke, Rangiahua and Oruaiti.

No reports of blockages on the major routes operated by the NZR Road Services were received this morning, although temporary blockages are expected on sections of road where the tide banks the water up. Spring tides brought the water level higher than usual in all tidal flooding areas yesterday and today, but the water receded when the weight of the tide eased an hour after high water. PATAUA ROAD SLIP The slip which blocked the Pataua road yesterday was cleared sufficiently to allow the normal bus service to be operated today. v ~ The bus was unable to reach Whangarei yesterday, but passengers walked across the slip to where a special bus waited to bring them to Whangarei. As the flood waters receded in the Whakapara district last night the Russell bus was able to maintain its normal timetable. The centre of the depression which passed slowly over Whangarei yesterday registered a minimum barometric pressure of 29.60 in. A slight rise was noticed when a reading of 29.80 in. was recorded this morning, indicating that the rain which fell today was from the secondary stage of the cyclone, and belter weather may be expected. This morning’s rain brings the total for August to 5.42 in., compared with an average of 6.68 in. for the month, and the annual fall to 37.65 in. The five inches which fell on Saturday and Sunday brought the annual fall beyond the halfway mark of the average for the year. The normal morning aircraft from Auckland in the Northland service was cancelled this morning and the passengers transported by bus. STEADY RAIN AT KAIKOHE

No serious flooding has occurred in the Bay of Islands district. The water which fell during the weekend got away before the commencement of the second phase of bad weather yesterday afternoon. During the evening and night the wind rose, with extremely heavy gusts