Northland to prepare for flooding

Flooding in Northland west of Whangarei. Photo / supplied / Chris Opperman

The Civil Defence has warned Northland to prepare for further flooding as heavy rain and gale force winds lash the region again this weekend.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Northland with heavy rain and the possibility of thunderstorms moving across the region today.

Easterly gales with gusts of up to 100 km/h are expected this afternoon and tonight.

From lunchtime today until 6am tomorrow 40 to 60 millimetres is expected to fall in the region. The eastern hill country from Bay of Islands to Whangarei could receive 60 to 90 mm of rain.

Spokesman for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Graeme MacDonald, said they were preparing for further flooding, road closures and possible power outages.

"We acknowledge Northlanders have already gone through a lot and in some cases, their patience has been stretched to the limit but we are confident they will rise to the challenge of getting through it all again if required.

"People should keep an eye on weather conditions and forecasts, have a plan to get themselves and their families through, and consider curtailing any travel that isn't essential," he said.

"Although a massive team effort has already been put in to get the region's roading network back up and running, further road closures are a possibility if more flooding or damage is experienced overnight."

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