Extreme weather is currently sweeping across New Zealand causing flooding and closing down roads.
Wet weather and gale-force winds are wreaking havoc across Auckland and the north, closing roads, felling trees, flooding properties and causing power cuts.
Downpours hit the north early this morning bringing 34.5mm/h to some Auckland suburbs while easterly gusts reached up to 113km/h in the Hauraki Gulf.
Albany recorded 31.3mm of rain between 7am and 8am today - the third-wettest hour since records for that area began almost nine years ago, according to Niwa.
The Coromandel ranges experienced persistent rain with a 20-hour accumulation of 107.5mm recorded since 7pm yesterday.
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Albany (North Shore, #Auckland) recorded 31.3 mm of rain between 7:00-8:00 AM Sunday morning.
This was the third wettest hour at the location since records began almost 9 years ago!
Two state highways closures occurred this morning in Waikato.
Flooding at Goldfields Rd closed SH25 and a fallen tree blocked traffic in both directions on SH28, Whites Rd.
Contractors have now opened SH28 with a stop-go system in place but NZTA still warns of delays.
Northlanders, Aucklanders and those along the coast in the Bay of Plenty were warned to watch out for flooding as rain and high winds coincide with a king tide this morning and again this evening.
High tide in Auckland this morning was at 8.53am. The next high tide is at 9.19pm.
Rainfall precipitation Maps (x2) show Upper North Island most exposed to heaviest rain https://t.co/71ZCZMCD9j
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) July 14, 2018
Damaging gusts of 130km/h were expected in Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty from Whakatane westwards, and Waikato according to MetService.
Northeast gales of 110 km/h were expected in exposed places in Auckland and Great Barrier Island.
Heavy rain warnings remain in place for Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty west of Maketu and for Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards according to MetService.
NZTA warned it might have to close the Waioeka Gorge today at 3pm as a safety precaution due to severe weather on (SH2) between Opotiki and Gisborne.
The rain band currently reaching from Coromandel through to Taranaki is set to bring some rain to most of NZ today. Below are the areas which could see (and already have seen for some) rain heavy enough to cause surface flooding, slips and hazardous driving conditions ^AC pic.twitter.com/ySWsmdyZ2u
Significant wave heights over the eastern coast of the North Island are reading around 3.5m (max waves of 5m). With high tide around 9am this morning now is the time of greatest risk for wave inundation for eastern coasts from Northland through to western Bay of Plenty. ^AC pic.twitter.com/G4RBoUWFkL
Early this morning, Northern Fire Communications shift manager Daniel Nicholson told the Herald they had attended 15 callouts in about an hour and half this morning, and that flooding was affecting houses.
A tree had fallen through a house in Whangaparaoa in the North Shore, Nicholson said.
"Nobody was injured but the house was severely damaged," he said.
Flooding has caused Tamaki Drive to close. Photo / Matthew Davison
The callouts had been steady since 7am but they were not unmanageable, he said.
"We are just sitting by, waiting to see what happens with the king tide."
The owners of the house told Stuff the tree came down during torrential rain and had crashed into their home of 18 years.
NZTA warned debris was expected on many main roads in the South Island this coming week between periods of high seas.
MetService meteorologist Andrew James said exposed north-eastern areas were expected to bear the brunt of it today and could expect big rainfall numbers.
The rain band which delivered 48.6mm to Kerirkeri in the last 18h now sits over Auckland and the Coromadel Peninsula. We expect this band to move off these areas around midday. You can keep up to date with the progression of rain with our radars here https://t.co/prKU7O2R01 ^AC pic.twitter.com/WsnESfct6v
Aucklanders can expect showers tomorrow with northerlies turning westerly in the afternoon.
The showers and westerlies were expected to continue in Auckland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Today's main centre forecasts
Whangarei Rain, with heavy falls, easing to a few showers late morning as strong easterlies change lighter northerly. Chance thunderstorm. High 17C low 9C
Auckland Rain, heavy and possibly thundery, with easterly gales, gusting 120 km/h. Rain and winds easing towards evening. High 16C low 10C
Hamilton Rain developing morning, possibly heavy, as easterlies become strong. Rain easing evening as winds change lighter northerly. High 15C low 8C
Tauranga Showers turning to rain morning, with heavy falls, as easterlies become strong. Possible evening thunderstorms. Weather easing overnight. High 16C low 9C
Wellington A fine day, then cloud increasing and some evening rain. Light winds. High 15C low 10C
Christchurch Cloud increasing. Chance shower, then more likely from evening. Northeasterlies becoming strong. High 13C low 8C
Dunedin A few showers developing morning and becoming more frequent evening. Strong, gusty northeasterlies. High 11C low 10C
