Record monthly rainfall in Tairāwhiti was followed by dangerous high wind leaving sections of State Highway 2 impassable.

Police urged motorists to avoid SH2 near the Wharerata Rd lookout if possible at 2.15pm today due to high winds knocking trees down and leaving parts of the road impassable at times.

“The highway is extremely treacherous,” the local police spokesman said.

“We’ve had a lot of near misses on the road today, vehicles with blown tyres and one vehicle that hit a rock that had come down,” he said.

“Road crews are working hard to clear the obstructions.”

More than a month’s worth of rain fell on Boxing Day in Gisborne in what was a record for the wettest December here since records were taken in 1937.

A MetService spokesman told the Gisborne Herald on Friday that the Thursday rainfall pushed the city’s December rainfall total to 206.9mm. The previous record was 204mm set in 1954.

Gisborne had the best weather in the country on Christmas Day but a day later was enduring conditions among the worst as a wet deluge arrived from the north, followed by a dose from the south.

It resulted in significant rainfall figures for Gisborne city and other areas of Tairāwhiti.

Boxing Day rainfall at the airport amounted to 89.4mm.

Rainfall levels in the city also forced Gisborne District Council to open the emergency sewer valves at pump stations into the Taruheru and Tūranganui rivers to prevent sewage overflowing into properties.

Debris built up again on the city beaches after contractors had these looking good before Christmas after last week’s southerly blast.

On Christmas Day, Gisborne’s temperature got up a national high of around 28 degrees beneath beautiful blue skies before the rain came late afternoon-early evening.

Gisborne city received substantial falls that caused surface flooding in some streets.

A large tree defies the current of Waimata River opposite Clifford St houses in Gisborne. A lot of debris flowed past the properties of riverside residents - a lot of it ending on city beaches.

The figures from the council website show 74mm in the 24 hours to 11am yesterday and 118mm in the previous seven days in Wheatstone Rd, 75mm and 123mm in the Paraone Rd rain gauge, 65mm and 112min in Stout St.

A selection of other 24-hour/7-day falls reported on the website at 11am yesterday were as follows -

Mangapoike 104/142; Wharerata 142/195; Waerenga-o-Kuri 60/90; Te Arai 70/122; Mangatu 47/79; Ngatapa 43/74; Maraetaha 68/116; Hikuwai No 4 bridge 93/143; Mangaheia 116/181; Waipaoa at Kanakanaia 42/69; Wharekopae River 39/60; Waikohu River 41/74; Tokomaru Bay 87/137, Panikau Rd 107/180; Ruatōria 57/101; Te Puia 106/167; Poroporo (SH35 bridge) 44/93; Waimata (Monowai) 79/137; Karakatuwhero River 23/77; Ūawa (SH35 bridge); Caesar Road No1 bore 42/95; Puawa 97/174; Tatapouri 78/130; Waimata (Goodwins) 78/141; Matawai 24/51; Waikura Valley 24/105; Wharekahika 20/83.

Waimata, Taruheru and Tūranganui rivers flowed well for much of the weather event, but debris began to build up under the William Pettie, Gladstone Rd (pictured) and railway bridges mid-morning yesterday. Photo / Murray Robertson

The council reported on Boxing Day the city’s wastewater system was flooded with intense periods of rainfall draining from residential properties.

“To prevent sewage from overflowing back into homes and on to roads and causing a significant health risk, we must release the excess water,” the council said in social media.

“To do this we opened the emergency sewer valve at Oak St into the Taruheru River and Gladstone Rd Bridge into the Tūranganui River at 1pm that day.

“We only open the valves when it was absolutely necessary and only in the areas with issues ... the discharge is highly diluted with rain water, but still poses a health risk.”

As is procedure, the council notified the Hauora Tairāwhiti Medical Officer of Health, along with water user and sports groups.

Temporary health warning signs were put up.

“We advise no swimming, fishing or gathering shellfish in rivers and beaches until at least five days after the valves are closed and warning signs are removed.”

As of Friday, the valves remained open.

The river flow was strong over Boxing Day and Friday, carrying plenty of woody debris - along with an old and empty dinghy - with build-ups forming against the Gladstone Rd and railway bridges.

The all-too familiar sight of dirty brown water and debris collecting against railway bridge pylons in Gisborne's city centre during the heavy rain that struck the region. The Boxing Day soaking was followed by strong southerly winds.

The region’s state highway network remained open.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advised caution in some areas, particularly at the various roadwork sites across the region.

The weather got the better of one of the festive season trips planned for the Gisborne City Vintage Railway steam train WA165 on Friday.

“GCVR had to cancel Friday’s excursion due to the weather conditions with predicted winds of up to 90km an hour,” a spokeswoman said.

“That was outside safe operating - particularly on the big bridge (Waipaoa).

“Anyone who has already purchased tickets from the i-Site will be able to choose from either refund, or ticket exchange for the excursion today (Saturday), or the one of January 2 (subject to availability).”

The MetService forecast for Saturday was rain, easing in the afternoon, and southerlies strong at first, gusting up to 90km/h. A strong wind watch was in place.

Sunday’s forecast is partly cloudy with the chance of a shower until evening; southerlies easing in the evening.

More rain is forecast for Monday and New Year’s Eve.

A heavy rain warning remained in place for the Wairoa district yesterday.