Step 1.
Use the Ecan links below to check the following limits and remember to never get on a rising river!
Waimakariri Esk: This gauge is 2.5km downstream of Gorge Entrance and measures the height of. the river.
- This gauge should be a maximum of 0.7m and DROPPING
Waimakariri Otarama: This gauge is located 5km upstream of Woodstock and measures the volume of water through the Gorge.
- This gauge should be a maximum of 150 cumecs (m³/s) and DROPPING
Waimakariri Gorge: This gauge is located on the Gorge Bridge and measures the height of the river.
- This gauge should be a maximum of 1.8m and DROPPING
Old Highway Bridge: This gauge is next to the State Highway 1 Bridge (near the coast) and gives the cumecs (m³/s) reading in town and the progress of water down the river.
Step 2.
Use the 'Weather Information' links below to check the following:
Rainfall/Precipitation - Look for consistency and quantity. 5mm per hour (or more) is a lot especially if it keeps consistent. With the radars look for the colours associated with larger rain quantitiy. (Red is usually the heaviest rain). Rainfall means rising river!
Wind Speed - Check the high country and Arthur's Pass NP forecast. Ensure wind speed is less than 55kmph.
- Note that the speed is often the predicted average and does not account for gusts of higher speed.
Temperature - The lower the temperature, the colder! Generally rule is 0.7 degrees Celsius per 100m elevation change.
- So if the AP National Park forecast @ Avalanche Peak (1833m ASL) is -5°, then the temperature at the Mt White Bridge 'put in' (550m ASL) would be 4.8° Celsius. Of course this is a rough estimate but is a good place to start.
There isn't a specified limit on temperature but will help you prepare for the conditions (Although we hope you are always prepared with extra warm gear anyway).
Weather Information Links:
METSERVICE - Metservice is NZ's leading meteorology provider
METVUW - Metvuw is an alternative website with data collected from the USNWS
Comparing more than one chart provider can increase probability of the forecast
Rainfall Information Links:
ECAN (Environment Canterbury) Rainfall Data
- Arthur's Pass - Tributary to Waimakariri upstream of Mt White Bridge ('Put In')
- Carrington - Tributary to Waimakariri upstream of Mt White Bridge ('Put In')
- Mount Byrne - Near Harper Pass, Upper end of Thompson River (Tributary of Poulter)
- Ranger Stream - Next to Poulter River. Downstream of Thompson and Poulter confluence
- Bull Creek - Cox River where Bull Creek confluences in. Cox River Flows into Poulter 16km upstream of Waimakariri
- Grasmere - Lake Grasmere. 6km South of the Mt White Bridge 'Put In'. Flows into Cass stream that enters just 300m downstream of 'Put In'
- Kanuka Hills (Esk River) - Next to the Esk River, 19km upstream of the Waimakariri confluence
- Waimakariri Esk - Same location as River Level gauge. Next to Waimakariri River, 2.5km downstream of gorge entrance
- Cheeseman - At the Ski Field. Covers Craigieburn Range. Flows into Broken River, which flows into Waimakariri 1.5 upstream of the 'Red Iron Bridge'. Or 16km downstream of gorge entrance.
Tide Information
https://www.tideschart.com/New-Zealand/Canterbury/Waimakariri-District/Kaiapoi/
