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Northland, Auckland and Coromandel residents were bracing for another drenching overnight and today, just a month after homes and businesses were ravaged by floods.
Northland officials - still in clean-up mode after a financially and emotionally crippling month - are preparing for up to 70mm of heavy rain and thunderstorms today after a severe weather warning was issued yesterday.
Although the disruptive weather is not expected to be as bad as the previous storm, MetService warns short, intense rainfalls and northeast gales could still create problems for Northland's already sodden soils.
Earlier this month a state of emergency was declared in the Far North as the town of Kaeo was cut off by floodwaters, and electricity was cut to homes in Northland, Auckland and Coromandel.
Graeme MacDonald, hazard team leader for the Northland Regional Council, says all emergency teams were again on alert last night.
"We are doing what we usually do when we get a warning like this, which is nothing out of the ordinary," he says. "We have a hydrologist monitoring the river levels and they have an alarm system and will keep in contact with me.
"We're concerned that we're getting more of this weather, but we're quite confident it won't do as much damage as the last time - we hope, anyway."
Ann Midson from the Whangarei District Council said there was the possibility of thunderstorms and rainfall levels of 20mm per hour.
Tomorrow morning the rain should turn to heavy showers and fine periods. She advised people to take care if they were driving or out and about.
MetService says the storm is caused by a low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea, and has the potential to affect a large portion of the country.
It is predicted to move southwards over the weekend, hitting Auckland, Bay of Plenty, the Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne.
MetService said parts of the Coromandel peninsula and Bay of Plenty could have 120mm of rain in 12 hours. Driving conditions were likely to be hazardous with the possibility of slips and surface flooding.
To cut flood damage
* Trim back any trees that could damage windows and gutters and remove trees likely to fall on buildings or powerlines.
* Do not leave any loose tools or objects lying around.
* Make sure your roof is properly fixed down.
* Lift any unsecured objects around the house to the highest possible level.
* Make sure windows are securely locked.
* Turn off electricity, water and gas.
* Place sandbags by all doors.
* Block any vents or openings to the house.
