Heavy rain causes road closure in Tauranga

Bad flooding on Maleme street. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Tauranga has been hit by torrential rain this morning with more than half the average monthly rainfall falling in just a matter of hours.

A Bay of Plenty street has been closed to vehicles after sudden downpours this morning.

The low section of Maleme St, Greerton was closed due to flooding, but has just reopened.

A Tauranga City Council communications advisor said there was still no access to the transfer station.

Metservice forecasters are warning more flooding is likely in the area after 61mm fell in four hours. Anything greater than 6mm per hour in considered heavy while Tauranga has seen 18mm per hour.

"I would imagine there would be flooding but I haven't had any confirmed reports. There has been a decent amount of rain in that rain. In Tauranga there has been a heap of rain, 61mm in the last four hours which is very heavy rain," said MetService meteorologist Peter Little.

"It looks like the heaviest rain has begun to ease there now although the warnings for that area remain in force for the moment."

The area is among other parts of the Western Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula to have been drenched in the past few days.

Severe weather warnings were issued last night as heavy rain hit Whitianga and parts of the Coromandel Peninsular, flooding roads and closing schools. They remain in place today.

Waikato Civil Defence said there was still a bit of rain hanging about the top of the peninsula but no reported problems this morning. All roads were open and there were no power outages.

Residents have been warned to expect around 80-120mm of rain until 10am on top of what has already fallen last night.

Since rain started falling yesterday Whitianga has been drenched with 100mm of rain fall.

Mr Little said the heavy rain was expected to break down later today.

Meanwhile today in Auckland, those out and about in the city should expect patches of heavy shower around the middle of the day which is expected to ease heading into the weekend. Temperatures will however remain at a balmy 24-25 degrees.

In the Waikato, rain is expected in the afternoon but that should also ease heading into the weekend.

Heavy rain in is expected in areas near Kaimai Range but should ease there around midday today.

In the lower parts of the North Island things are looking a little less wet.

Mr Little said those looking to escape to wet weather should head to Wellington.

After light showers tonight, the weather in the capital is expected to fine up with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees.

Mr Little said parts of the South Island were expected to be very wet particularly on the West Coast. MetService has issued wet weather warnings for the region

Residents have been warned to watch for heavy rain in the ranges of Westland from Franz Josef to Otira during Saturday, where rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts.

"Certainly Westland and Fiordland look like they are in for a lot of rain from later today and in through the weekend. Also the Nelson area could see some rain as well," Mr Little said.

"Eastern areas are looking certainly better and Blenheim is looking quite good."

Weather around NZ

• Northland: Rain from the afternoon and a chance it could be heavy. It is expected to ease later in the day.

• Auckland: Showers, briefly heavy, easing in the afternoon. Northeasterly wind and 24C temperatures.

• Hamilton: Rain, heavy at times but expected to clear in the afternoon. A high of 23C is expected.

• Tauranga: Rain easing to a few showers by midday. Northeast winds and a high of 22C.

• New Plymouth: Few afternoon and evening showers, a chance some could be heavy. Northeast winds.

• Napier: Afternoon fine breaks with easterly breezes developing. A high of 22C is expected.

• Wellington: Cloudy with one or two evening showers expected. Northerly winds are developing.

• Christchurch: Morning cloud then fine spells. A high of 20C is expected.

• Dunedin: Increasing high cloud with strengthening northeast winds and a high of 19C.

Source: MetService