Upgrade likely to Wairarapa rain watch: MetService

A heavy rain watch for Wairarapa and the Tararua Ranges from 9am Tuesday until 6am Thursday is likely to be upgraded to warning levels, MetService says.

Locals are anxiously anticipating what will hit the region next, with the vital Turanganui River bridge washed out twice this year already.

South Wairarapa District Council said the Turanganui River bridge remained open as of early Tuesday afternoon but people were urged to use it only if absolutely necessary.

"It is important that safe access and passage for residents are maintained. If travel across the bridge is necessary, please exercise extreme caution," the council said.

Elsewhere in the district, flooding had closed White Rock Road at Lagoon Hills and people were advised the remainder of the road should be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicles only.

Cape River Road and Tora Road were also restricted for four-wheel-drive access only, while slips had closed Ngakonui Road.

The council warned people to be ready for further road and bridge closures, particularly around Martinborough.

It said repairs at the Tawaha floodway sill meant the Jenkins Dip spillway at SH53 Waihenga Bridge near Martinborough would operate at the lower river level of four metres, half a metre lower than usual.

Further south, Cape Palliser Road remained open only to residents in four-wheel-drive vehicles between 6.30am and 6pm weekdays due to multiple crews working to repair the road after earlier severe weather.

Late last month, about 460 homes in Ngāwi, Lake Ferry, Whāngaimoana and Cape Palliser were cut off when the Tūranganui Bridge was washed out by floodwaters and Cape Palliser Road was damaged by flooding and slips.

Rain was peaking at 70mm in South Wairarapa and Wellington, with more to come, meteorologist Lewis Pass said.

"It was only about two weekends ago that a lot of rain did fall around the Wairarapa. Although it's been relatively dry since then, soil is still very much on the saturated side."

Rain was likely to fall into rivers quite quickly, he said.

The South Wairarapa District Council said the ground was still sodden from weather events last week.

It warned that rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly, with risks of flooding and slips.

'Precautions that the locals take'

The wider region - including the Tararua Range - remained under a heavy rain watch until 6am on Thursday.

Brian Jephson, who lives on the Cape Palliser coast, said visiting family members were leaving a day early.

"These are the precautions that the locals take."

His grandchildren had a flight to catch tomorrow but the family would leave tonight just in case they got cut off by weather.

The coast's single road is shut to all traffic except residents while repairs are made following heavy rain and flooding last week.

Lower North Island on watch

A yellow heavy rain watch starts tomorrow for sections of Hawke's Bay extending south through the ranges of the Tararua district into Taihape and Manawatu and into the eastern ranges of Horowhenua.

It kicks in at 6pm Wednesday and lasts until midnight Thursday.

Also at 6pm Wednesday, a strong wind watch begins in Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds, Kapiti Coast and Taranaki, lasting until 6pm Thursday.

Weather moving up to the North Island is forecast to affect Cook Straight through to Thursday.

Southerly winds could hit severe gale in exposed places, with a moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.

Ferry company Bluebridge said in a statement on its website that there might be longer crossing times and some delays on Thursday due to rough sea conditions.

Big swells on Wednesday night through to Thursday may create delays or cancellations to some ferry services.