Primary sector on alert as red rain warnings issued across multiple regions
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The rainfall was especially heavy overnight in Westland, causing power disruptions and forcing some roads to close, reports West Coast Emergency Management.
The New Zealand Transport Agency Otago/Southland @NZTAOS also reports heavy rain in Fiordland, with Milford Road on SH94 now closed.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
— NZTA Otago/Southland (@NZTAOS) February 2, 2020
SH94 Milford Rd is expected to remain CLOSED until Tuesday as heavy rain is not expected to ease, An update is expected at 1 pm. ^JPhttps://t.co/3e7GuGJNGd pic.twitter.com/zMoydncBQb
An up-to-date report of road closures can be found here.
The bad weather is set to continue, with MetService issuing a heavy rain warning for Westland, Fiordland, Southland and Clutha, and parts of Canterbury and Otago.
Some farmers have shared the extent of the rain on Twitter.
In one video, Southland farmer Bruce @fairleigh_ag reveals a large pond that developed on his farm within just one hour.
She's a bit #moist pic.twitter.com/u9kHgAEk1j
— ?? Bruce ?? (@fairleigh_ag) February 2, 2020
In another one, West Coast farmer and Federated Farmers president, Katie Milne @ktmilne6 reveals the high humidity the region is experiencing from the rain.
— Katie Milne (@ktmilne6) February 2, 2020
