1News

State of emergency remains in place for West Coast after wild weather, with number of roads still closed

March 28, 2019

1 NEWS reporter Sam Clarke was at the scene at Franz Josef. (Source: Other)

A number of roads on the West Coast of the South Island are still closed this morning and the state of emergency remains in place.

The area was battered by hundreds of millimetres of rain overnight on Tuesday.

It's hoped the Waiho Bridge, which was washed away in the wild weather, will be rebuilt in just 10 days.

An elderly woman was killed during the deluge, believed to have been swept away by floodwaters near Hokitika. (Source: Other)

The bridge is the main transport link between Franz Josef and the rest of the Southern Westland area.

New Zealand Weather News West Coast

SHARE ME

More Stories

A fire rips through Seaview Terraces in Hokitika.

Woman charged after blaze at former Hokitika mental health facility

Police said the woman lit a fire which destroyed the Seaview Hospital complex last month.

3:10pm

A MetService radar was struck by lightning near Hokitika yesterday.

Lightning strike causes 'significant damage' to radar tower near Hokitika

A team of technicians were sent to assess the site, and found the remote had been "significantly damaged" in a lightning strike.

1:53pm

Swathe of weather watches and warnings issued for the South Island

MetService meteorologist John Law said there would be more strong winds and heavy rain in store for the weekend.

12:56pm

Wind warning for Auckland Harbour Bridge, gales for Wairarapa

Gusts across the bridge could potentially reach between 75 and 85km/h between 9am and 2pm.

Thursday 9:00am

1:31

Watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain, severe gales loom

Heavy rain and strong wind watches have been upgraded to warnings in multiple regions, including the Wairarapa, Tararua, and Buller areas.

Wed, Sep 17

1:29

Heavy rain, severe gales to impact South Island, lower North

MetService has issued multiple orange warnings for heavy rain and strong winds, with weather watches also in place across several regions.

Tue, Sep 16

1:30

Swathe of weather watches and warnings issued for the South Island

MetService meteorologist John Law said there would be more strong winds and heavy rain in store for the weekend.

12:56pm

Wind warning for Auckland Harbour Bridge, gales for Wairarapa

Gusts across the bridge could potentially reach between 75 and 85km/h between 9am and 2pm.

Thursday 9:00am

1:31

Watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain, severe gales loom

Heavy rain and strong wind watches have been upgraded to warnings in multiple regions, including the Wairarapa, Tararua, and Buller areas.

Wed, Sep 17

1:29

Heavy rain, severe gales to impact South Island, lower North

MetService has issued multiple orange warnings for heavy rain and strong winds, with weather watches also in place across several regions.

Tue, Sep 16

1:30

Woman charged after blaze at former Hokitika mental health facility

Police said the woman lit a fire which destroyed the Seaview Hospital complex last month.

3:10pm

Lightning strike causes 'significant damage' to radar tower near Hokitika

A team of technicians were sent to assess the site, and found the remote had been "significantly damaged" in a lightning strike.

1:53pm

Swathe of weather watches and warnings issued for the South Island

MetService meteorologist John Law said there would be more strong winds and heavy rain in store for the weekend.

12:56pm

Wind warning for Auckland Harbour Bridge, gales for Wairarapa

Gusts across the bridge could potentially reach between 75 and 85km/h between 9am and 2pm.

Thursday 9:00am

1:31

Watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain, severe gales loom

Heavy rain and strong wind watches have been upgraded to warnings in multiple regions, including the Wairarapa, Tararua, and Buller areas.

Wed, Sep 17

1:29

Heavy rain, severe gales to impact South Island, lower North

MetService has issued multiple orange warnings for heavy rain and strong winds, with weather watches also in place across several regions.

Tue, Sep 16

1:30

VIEW MORE NEW ZEALAND STORIES

Latest

Popular

18 mins ago

'Two to three hundred in every region': Tamariki on kōhanga waitlists

2:20

The Kōhanga Reo National Trust says it’s been severely underfunded for years.

50 mins ago

Submachine gun found in Airbnb as police bust alleged drug-smuggling ring

A firearm found as part of Operation Mexted. (Source: NZ Police)

7:20pm

Auckland club raising the next generation of Black Ferns