Flooding and landslides warning as heavy rain batters Taranaki

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Mestervice has released a heavy rain warning for Taranaki, with peak rates of 25 to 35 mm per hour.

ANDY MACDONALD/Stuff

Mestervice has released a heavy rain warning for Taranaki, with peak rates of 25 to 35 mm per hour.

Heavy rain in Taranaki could last until Friday, MetService says, as a severe weather warning is issued for the region.

A 39-hour period of rain starting on Wednesday at 2pm is expected to put Taranaki under heavy rain until 5am on Friday.

MetService said the area around Taranaki Maunga should experience 350 to 400mm of rain, and the rest of the region 150 to 200mm, with peak rates of 25 to 35mm per hour.

“We are expecting streams and rivers to rise rapidly, potentially resulting in overland surface flows, damage to culverts and horizontal infrastructure (particularly roading), slips and flooding.

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Latest MetService Severe Weather.

“Driving conditions will be hazardous,” MetService said.

Taranaki Emergency Management said in a statement the heavy rain could cause landslides and other hazards.

They would make a decision on a “pre-emptive activation” of the emergency coordination centre, the team said on Wednesday afternoon.