A flood warning has been issued for Auckland, with heavy rain causing chaos across the city.
A flood warning has been issued for Auckland, with heavy rain causing chaos across the city. Live coverage has now finished. For full story click here.
4.05pm: At least 80 houses across Auckland have been affected by flooding today. The Fire Service, as well as police and St John, is responding to a report of two people trapped in a car that is underwater up to its windscreen on Subway Rd in Pukekohe.
Flooded carpark building at Dress Smart in Onehunga. Photo / Emma Harford
3.44pm: There are long delays heading west from the city due to earlier flooding. The link from the Northern Motorway to the Northwestern is affected, although all lanes are open.
Onehunga Bay Lagoon, literally. Photo / Stefania Sarnecki
3.32pm: Auckland's wettest June hour in history has been recorded today, between 1pm and 2pm. NIWA's weather station in Mangere logged 25.4mm of rainfall over the short period.
Breaking: With 25.4 mm of rain between 1 & 2 pm, #Auckland had its wettest June hour in recorded history. #climate
Flooding on New North Rd, Mt Albert. Photo / Peter Janssen
Flooding on New North Rd, Mt Albert. Photo / Peter Janssen
3.25pm: WeatherWatch.co.nz says the torrential rain in Auckland has now eased. A remaining heavy downpour is still possible later today, but conditions should now be mostly dry, or becoming mostly dry.
3.23pm: People are stuck on the top floor of an Onehunga factory due to flooding, according to the Fire Service. The factory is on Waller St and the trapped people are speaking with 111 operators.
3.11pm: Roscommon Road in Wiri is partially closed due to flooding. There is only one lane open travelling southbound, Auckland Transport says.
3.10pm: Flooding has been reported at Auckland Airport's domestic terminal. Cars dropping off and picking up passengers are being diverted.
3.05pm: Auckland Civil Defence are receiving a high volume of calls, but advising people to call 111 if there is a risk to life or property, or 09 301 0101 for other queries.
#Auckland seen heavy rain last few hours-30mm in 1 hour recorded! 4cast 2 ease afternoon, but Watch til evening: https://t.co/bcFLKY4OUU ^CD
3.04pm: Matipo Primary School in Te Atatu flooded in multiple buildings with fire crews at the scene. Reports of weather-related issues are coming from as far south as Karaka.
Flooding at Onehunga this afternoon. Photo / Carol and Hugh Barron
Flooding on New North Rd, St Lukes. Photo / Supplied
Te Atatu Peninsula flooding, with water overflowing into Henderson Creek, a witness said. Photo / John Seward
Te Atatu Peninsula flooding, with water overflowing into Henderson Creek, a witness said. Photo / John Seward
Flooding on Auckland's Montgomery Drive near Auckland Airport. Photo / Wendy Mansell
There is a strong wind warning on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, high-sided vehicles and motorbikes will need to take extra care. ^LC
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) June 29, 2016
1.58pm: Surface flooding has already been reported on some motorways and highways, NZTA says.
There is lots of surface flooding on the network, especially the Nth Wstn Mwy. Please drive to the conditions & take extra care ^LC
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) June 29, 2016
The Fire Service has had numerous callouts to flooded areas in West Auckland, cars have been stuck in flood water in Glendene and at least a dozen houses have been affected.
Houses as far east as Carr Road in Mt Roskill have reported problems with rising water levels and Lincoln Road, Henderson and parts of Waterview have also been affected.
Numerous traffic signals throughout the city have experienced faults due to power outages.
Intersections on Manukau Road, Great South Road and Constellation Drive have been affected.
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Rain is due to ease tonight, but more downpours are expected before then.
Heavy rain has also hit Northland, but areas further south are still waiting.
A heavy rain warning is in place for Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty from noon today, but no major downpours have occurred yet.
The warning for parts of Hawkes Bay south of Napier applies from 6pm.
Slips and surface flooding are possible, the MetService warned, and driving may be hazardous.
The weather service is forecasting heavy rain of at least 15-25mm during "thundery downpours".
More than 70mm of rain in 12 hours is possible for Northland from early this morning until late afternoon, in Auckland from this morning until evening, in Waikato from late this morning until this evening, in Coromandel Peninsula from this morning until this evening and in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay from this afternoon until early tomorrow.
MetService is advising people in these areas to keep up to date with forecasts.
