On Friday 19 August 2022 at 4.30 pm a state of local emergency was declared in Marlborough because of a significant weather event.
The Rai River had its biggest flood on record, estimated as a 60-year event. Communities in Canvastown and Rai Valley were cut off from Marlborough and Nelson due to flooding, slips and road damage with both State Highway 6 and State Highway 63 closed for a period. Access in and out of the Marlborough Sounds was also adversely affected.
Initial assessments indicate that the new damage to Kenepuru Road, Queen Charlotte Drive, Croisilles Road going into Ōkiwi Bay, French Pass Road and Port Underwood Road could be worse than that in July 2021 storm.
