Heavy rain hits Northland, Auckland and east coast

There are 13 severe weather warnings for the North Island today, covering Northland, Auckland and the East Coast.

Coromandel Peninsula residents were advised to stay home and avoid driving anywhere this afternoon, as torrential rain and gusts of strong wind battered the area.

Civil defence controller Garry Towler said intense rain and gale-force winds were lashing coastal roads.

Tairua Road, Hikuwai was blocked 1 km north of McBeth Road and police said motorists should seek an alternative route and to expect delays.

The one-lane bridge to Pauanui was also impassable.

Most homes in Coromandel Town were without power after wind brought down power lines this morning.

Electricity was cut to the town on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula just before 8am.

Powerco said just over 2000 properties were affected and it expected power to be back on later this afternoon.

Thames-Coromandel local volunteer fire service deputy chief Rob Craw said people should stay inside if they can.

If conditions did worsen later today, more flooding could cause major problems, he said.

Motorists using the Auckland Harbour Bridge have been ordered to slow down and warned to take care as wind gusts and rain buffet the city.

Waka Kotahi said it had reduced the speed limit and number of lanes to handle the gusts. Motorcycles and large trucks were being asked to drive with care and should consider using the Western Ring route.

Northland Civil Defence said there has been some flooding and a few slips.

Police advised motorists to avoid the area on State Highway 1 between Whakapara and Hikurangi.

Puhipuhi Road, and sections of Jordan River Valley Road were flooded, with many vehicles unable to drive through.

Detour routes were in place, a police spokesperson said.

In the Whangārei district, seven schools were closed, with flooded roads keeping staff and students stuck at home.

Hiikurangi School principal Jodi Edwards said he was trapped on the coast at Whananāki, which was flooded in many places.

At the Ngunruru Wahapu Campervan Park near Whangārei, a staff member has described seeing trees coming down and flooding around the area.

The rain had begun to ease off in the region this morning, as the bad weather moved south.

Meanwhile, the Thames-Coromandel District Council said extreme care was needed on roads across the Coromandel as the area was hit by heavy rain and wind.

In a statement at 10am, it said there was debris and surface flooding across the area.

A one-lane bridge in Wharekaho (Simpsons Beach) was flooded.

East Coast hit again

Tairāwhiti is also getting another hammering of bad weather, after torrential flooding earlier this year.

Tokomaru Bay, about a 90 minute drive north of Gisborne, is in the firing line again.

Roads, bridges and homes across the township were severely damaged earlier this year.

Tuatini Marae, on a hill in the middle of the township, is open for people who need to evacuate from their homes. People are advised to bring bedding, towels, clothes and kai.

Local civil defence co-ordinator Lillian Te Hau-Ward said the town was unfortunately getting used to these storms.

"This time no tears - it's all about getting in and doing the do straight away. First and foremost, it's just to ensure that our whānau are staying off the roads [and] they've got what they need to survive for three days."

A beachside stream in the town was also causing service flooding on some properties.

The Gisborne District Council said as at 5pm, the Hikuwai River bridge, south of Uawa/Tolaga Bay, was at 9.5 metres high and rising. Flood alerts are triggered at 8.5 metres and the river was expected to keep rising tonight.

Earlier, the council said high tide was backing up on the Waiotu Stream, causing surface flooding on some properties.

The council advised people to stay off the roads if they can, as driving conditions may be hazardous north of Tolaga Bay.

State Highway 35, from Tolaga Bay to Ruatorea, closed due to flooding about 4.50pm.

More than 120mm of rain had fallen in Whangārei by 7.30am on Friday Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino told Morning Report.

Whangārei District Council said Kokopu School would be closed today, as would Oakura Rubbish and Recycling Station.

It reported a number of areas of flooding and a tree down on Mangapai Road, which blocked both lanes.

A list of impacted roads would be updated on the council's Facebook page.

State Highway 1 south of Tirau in South Waikato was closed after a truck collided with a railway overbridge.

Both lanes were blocked and detours were in place.

It would take some time to remove the truck, police said.

There was a higher chance of flooding and slips, with a lot of rain coming down at once, Brandolino said.

"There have been some very heavy falls and I think that's the concern ... with this high octane moisture ... it's how much rain falls in a relatively short period of time."

"We'll see waves of rain, so it may not be a persistent steady rain, we may actually see the sun, particularly in Northland this afternoon and that may help to energise the atmosphere for those thunderstorms."

There would be large swells, and eastern areas may see localised coastal erosion during high tide, Brandolino said.

"Big winds, big waves, that's what I like to say."

Things should settle down this evening, Brandolino said, with unusual temperatures as high as 30 degrees on the cards tomorrow.

Tomorrow would be "warm and soupy" he said.