Police warn Northland motorists

Northland Police are warning motorists to take care on the roads as a storm hits the region overnight.

Heavy rain and strong winds have been battering the area and the weather is expected to worsen between 2am and 6am tomorrow morning.

Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector Murray Hodson said if possible people should stay off the roads overnight.

"If you are driving, drive to the conditions and slow down. Remember your following distances, as it's harder to stop in wet weather."

Mr Hodson said the strong winds will be particularly dangerous for high sided vehicles and that these vehicles, such as trucks and campervans, should stay off the roads if possible.

"Also watch out for surface flooding. If you hit a large pool of water it will be like skating across ice and you will have no control."

There have been reports of trees and power lines coming down and the roofs of 12 houses in the Kaitaia area were blown off in the high winds.

A truck has crashed onto its side on State Highway One at Mangamuka and a tree fell onto a car on State Highway 10 at Awanui. The occupants were not injured.

Northland Police District Command Centre will be monitoring storm related events over the next 24 hours and deploying staff where needed to assist other emergency services during the storm.