Rain warning for Hawke’s Bay: More rain is on the region’s radar

Persistent rainfall has left much of Hawke’s Bay wet, and more is on the way.

A MetService heavy rain warning has been issued from Monday morning until the early hours of Tuesday for the Ruahine Ranges and the ‘inland ranges’ of Hawke’s Bay, while further rainfall is expected for most of the week, albeit lighter rainfall.

There was a possibility that the water levels of streams and rivers would rise rapidly during this warning period, and flooding and surface slides were also possible.

No highway was closed as of Monday afternoon due to rain.

Heavy rain was also observed in the rest of Hawke’s Bay until early Tuesday morning.

Thursday is the only day this week without rain, with good conditions on the radar across the Gulf.

“Widespread rain continues to fall in eastern areas of the North Island, while the majority of the South Island remains relatively stable until the frontal system arrives on Thursday,” a MetService statement said.

The Hawke’s Bay Civil Defense Emergency Management Group said on social media that the heavy rainfall – during the warning period to start the week – was likely to be around one-in-five-year levels, and that its widespread nature could see it “small to moderate”. Rising river levels.

“The concern will be erosion of river banks and bridge abutments due to continuous minor flow for several hours,” the post said.

Meanwhile, wet weather has put a damper on the start of the Hawke’s Bay cricket summer.

There was an early end to the first match of the season at McLean Park in Napier on Saturday during the four-day men’s Plunket Shield clash between the defending champions and hosts Central District and Canterbury.

After dismissing Canterbury for 225 and 320 and scoring 177 in their first innings, the Central Stags were 256-8 and needed 113 to win with two wickets to go, with Hawke’s Bay Black Caps Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner at the crease, when the rain came. With two afternoon play sessions on the final day.

There was no more playing.

The Hawke’s Bay side’s first home match of the season, a week after reclaiming the National Inter-County Challenge Cup, the Hawke’s Cup at Rangiora, lasted just 43 overs and just two hours of what was scheduled to be a two-day fixture on Saturday was played. And Sunday.

Batting first in the Central Districts Furlong Cup tie against Taranaki at Nelson Park, Napier, Hawke’s Bay was 155-4 when the rain started to fall on Saturday, with no further play possible.

The Mike Shrimpton Women’s Cup match between Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu which was scheduled to be played on Sunday at Cornwall Park, Hastings was abandoned without a ball being bowled.