Auckland motorists should watch for flooding on Tamaki Drive. Photo: Auckland Transport
The tail of Cyclone Lola will make itself felt in the Upper North Island from tomorrow.
MetService has issued a severe weather watch for Northland, Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula for the next two days.
A heavy rain and strong wind warning is in force from midday Sunday until early Monday morning with damaging easterly gusts of 130 kilometres an hour expected.
In a post on Facebook, Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler said the event could be significant, more so for those on the eastern side of the Coromandel.
"There are a combination of factors that are adding to our concerns about this event," he said.
"It is the remnants of a cyclone, we have king tides, storm surge, heavy rain, gale force winds and ongoing land instability issues as a result of Gabrielle."
The key messages for the next 48 hours before the storm arrives is to prepare, he said.
Those living close to the sea need to prepare for wave surge by having a plan B and somewhere to go, especially if the surges increase during the main high tides: 8am and 8pm Sunday and 9am and 9pm Monday.
MetService also issued a heavy rain watch for Auckland and Great Barrier Island, with thunderstorms possible on Monday morning.
Gisborne will then be next in line for a day of heavy rain from early Monday morning.
Updates may be found on the MetService website.