flooding

Eyes on Taieri River in flood-hit Dunedin

Dunedin mayor Dave Cull said there were still many slips on the road and the weather was freezing, with black ice on many city streets. Council officers were out laying grit, he said.

RNZI reports on the Taieri Plain, Dunedin Civil Defence said two houses in Outram were badly flooded but most of the approximately 100 people who had to get out on Friday could now return.

However, it said some residents of the nearby township of Henley might have to stay away for days. All its residents were evacuated on Friday night and there was no timeframe for them to return.

Flooding: State of emergencies declared in Dunedin, Timaru

The Taieri Plain south of Dunedin is on track for its second-largest flood on record.

Dunedin Civil Defence said the Taieri river was flowing at 1200 cumecs, and at 100 cumecs the Taieri floodgates were normally opened.

The civil defence controller, Sue Bidrose, said that was because they had been working to evacuate all the farmhouses and stock on the land which will be flooded once the gates are opened.

Montreal declares state of emergency over flooding

About 1,200 military personnel have been deployed to support emergency services responding to the flooding.

In a statement announcing the 48-hour state of emergency, the city of Montreal said forecasts suggested that the situation would not be short-lived.

Environment Canada was warning that water levels in the Rivière des Prairies were expected to rise by 20 centimeters overnight, weakening dikes, breakwaters and dams set up in key areas to prevent water infiltration, the statement said.

Severe weather hits US Southeast

In South Carolina, Jason Matthews, 66, died Monday when strong winds flipped his mobile home several times, Union County Sheriff David Taylor said.

"He was barely alive when (his) brother found him. By the time EMS and law enforcement could get to him he had died from his injuries," Taylor said.

Earlier, in Florence, Mississippi, 52-year-old Jacqueline Williams was on the phone Monday morning with 911, trying to direct rescuers after her vehicle went off the road into a creek, Rankin County Coroner David Ruth said. She was unable to get out and died.

Wet weather causes strife in several Pacific nations

The northwest of Fiji's Viti Levu is struggling as rain that has fallen for several days continues.

There has been extensive flooding, some schools have been closed and some residents have been forced to move to evacuation shelters.

Another storm system is forecast for later this week.

Fiji on flood alert

A heavy rain warning remains in force for the whole of the Fiji group as an active trough of low pressure is slowly moving over the country.

Media reports said as a result of the heavy rain all roads to Rakiraki are closed.

The town was badly hit by flooding in December when a tropical depression caused disruptions across much of Fiji.

 

Photo: Supplied (Flooding in Fiji's west, 15 December 2016). 

Strong winds, heavy rain cause chaos in Fiji

The system is now expected to possibly intensify into a category one cyclone later today.

At least ten families were evacuated in Navosai overnight after flood waters entered their homes.

A main highway in the capital Suva has been blocked by a landslide, and some powerlines have fallen due to strong winds.

Fiji's power authority said technicians were looking into the issue and there was no time frame on when power would be restored in the affected areas.

'Unbelievable' storm batters Australia

Rain and wind continue to batter southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, with king tides adding to the coastal destruction.

Erosion at Sydney's Collaroy Beach has forced the evacuation of multi-million dollar homes, which are now in danger of collapsing.

The storm cut power to 86,000 homes in NSW at the weekend, and thousands are still without power.

On Monday morning, a man's body was found in the Cotter River near Canberra. Police said the 37-year-old was caught in floodwaters at a river crossing.

Tropical depression brings flooding to Fiji's Vanua Levu

Amit Singh, a senior forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service, said the system, TD17F, made landfall on the northern island yesterday, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds.

He said Vanua Levu received 24-hours of very heavy rainfall, which has flooded low-lying areas and damaged crops, according to reports received by the service.

Flooding continues as cyclone heads towards Fiji

As of 6am Cyclone Zena was located approximately 740km west of Nadi.

Fiji Metservice said the category 2 cyclone was a fast-moving system and was intensifying and gale force winds were expected to reach Fiji by this afternoon or evening.