Bay of Plenty latest to suffer flooding as heavy rain heads south after Auckland, Northland and Coromandel

Sunday, 3 June 2018

Te Kouma Bay Rd in the Coromandel becomes a stone strewn set of rapids.

The Bay of Plenty is suffering from flooding as a band of heavy rain sweeps south from Auckland and Coromandel.

Heavy rain on Sunday night is causing flooding and slips at Papamoa Beach, Te Puke, Mount Maunganui, Otumoetai, Katikati, police say.

Flooding in Pakuranga, east Auckland on Sunday.

Some local roads are closed and police have asked motorists to follow the directions of emergency services and roading contractors.

The bad weather is making its way down the North Island. Northland received 15 days' worth of rain overnight, and Auckland was hit earlier today.

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Heavy rain and flooding hits Auckland near Pakuranga's Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday.

The MetService reported at about 9.30pm that heavy rain in Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula had eased and a severe weather warning was lifted.

However, another period of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms, is expected on Monday.

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) received 100 callouts related to heavy rain in Auckland on Sunday, a spokesperson said.

Houses, garages, and roads were flooded from Wellsford to Papakura, the spokesperson said - with East Auckland hit hardest.

Flooding has been reported in East Auckland

A spokesperson for FENZ said they were 'hammered' with callouts from the Auckland suburbs of Pakuranga and Howick between 12pm and 2pm. He said the weather had cleared up after 2pm.

Carolyn Tibbits was driving along Cascades Rd in the Auckland suburb of Pakuranga at 12.30pm when she turned a corner and saw traffic had ground to a halt after extensive flooding.

Heavy rain at Te Kouma Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula on Sunday.

'We were in a four-wheel drive and there was no way we were going through there.'

Floodwaters on one road off Cascades Rd had risen up to window-level with cars stuck along that road.

There were several reports of flooding on roads according to a spokesperson for FENZ.

The storm was moving down the Coromandel Peninsula with the Bay of Plenty and the Kaimai Range set to receive heavy rain into Monday.

Bay of Plenty to the Kaimai Range could expect rain to accumulate to 90mm to 120mm, especially about the ranges, until 6am on Monday.

The entrance to Waiheke Island's ferry terminal has been flooded.

Heavy rain is expected with thunderstorms possible with peak rain reaching 20mm to 25mm per hour.

The heavy weather in Northland earlier caused surface flooding and large tree branches to fall across State Highway 1 near Kawakawa, according to a police spokesperson.

Cars stranded in the middle of the road as Studfall St in east Auckland turned into a stream.

The bulk of the fire service call-outs in Auckland had been received after 10am according to a spokesperson for FENZ.

An entrance to the ferry terminal at Waiheke Island was flooded forcing ferry passengers to remove their shoes to wade through to the terminal, a witness said.

Auckland remains under a weather watch until 6pm.

Parts of New North Rd were flooded after heavy rains made their way over Auckland.

Heavy rain floods Te Kowhai Drive at Te Kouma, Coromandel, while Pollen Street at Thames is also flooded.

Metservice's rain radar at 8.23am Sunday showed heavy rain hitting Auckland.

Flynn said the Northland town of Kerikeri received 92.88mm of rain in 24 hours, just over half its monthly total of 171mm for June of last year.

Another weather station in Paihia recorded 125.5mm of rain over the same period.

COROMANDEL FLOODING

Police are warning drivers to stay off the roads as surface flooding and slips, brought by the deluge, closed several roads on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Serious flooding has closed State Highway 25 - the main route into Coromandel - at Tapu on Sunday afternoon. Thames-Coromandel District Council warned drivers to avoid the area and expect delays.

Muddy water was pouring down Te Kowhai Drive at Te Kouma, near the town of Coromandel, and emergency services were been called to Manaia, 8 kilometres to the south of Te Kouma.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has received calls of flooding at Pollen Street, Thames.

'Motorists are being asked to please follow the directions of emergency services and roading contractors as some local roads are closed.

'Nonessential travel should be delayed and drivers are being urged to take extra care.'

WHAT'S TO COME

The MetService has reported that periods of heavy rain for the northern and eastern regions of the North Island can be expected tonight and on Monday, and for eastern Marlborough during Monday.

Fronts associated with a low over the Tasman Sea are forecast to move slowly southwards over the North Island during tonight and Monday, bringing rain with possible thundery downpours especially to the northern and eastern districts.

The heaviest falls are expected in Bay of Plenty west of Te Puke, and the Kaimai Range, where a severe weather warning remains in force until 11pm on Sunday night.

Another period of rain, with possible thunderstorms, is expected in Northland, Auckland,Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty during Monday.