Wild Weather across the country has flooded the Coromandel. Source - Alexsandra Matthews
The worst of the weather is over for Auckland, Waikato and the Coromandel as the storm moves across to the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay.
But a section of State Highway 1 between Ohinewai and Mercer remained under water causing major congestion in both directions.
The highway had been under water since 5.45pm and motorists were advised to avoid the area. Despite floodwaters still covering the road, traffic was beginning to ease.
8:20PM UPDATE These floods REMAIN, with congestion beginning to EASE. Avoid the area if possible. This will be the final update this evening. For 24/7 updates and overnight information, visit this link: https://t.co/I11mxkBbIT ^HJ
A section of SH2, between Maramarua and Mangatawhiri, was also reported to be covered with water, with vehicles queuing as they move slowly through the building stream.
The Coromandel Peninsula also remained completely cut off with the flooding and slips causing both state highways to be closed. The rain had eased off by about 7pm and the king tide had little effect on the area.
But Bay of Plenty police were now warning of surface flooding on SH2 in Tauranga and were warning motorists to drive carefully.
Holiday makers described the "terrifying" conditions on Coromandel roads caused by the storm.
State Highway 25A through to Tairua is blocked off from the start of the highway, at the intersection off State Highway 26 and Kirikiri West Rd. Photo / Meghan Lawrence
Philippa McIver was travelling with her family from Te Mata on the Coromandel's east coast to Auckland when she came across one of the slips.
The road was impassable so they called Fire and Emergency before heading across the peninsula on the Coroglen Rd.
"It was terrifying. The water that we were driving past was swelling over the road, there were waterfalls, a couple of slips that were almost completely blocking the road.
"We were just hoping we were not going to be stuck on that road with no phone reception. The road was super slippery, it was all mud, there were lots of rocks on the road too so we were worried about a puncture.
"We had a couple of times when the car was sliding a bit. It felt good to be back on a normal road again."
They reached Tairua and had planned to drive back to Auckland from there but the last road out has now been closed.
"We got the last booking at a hotel in Tairua. There were people coming in quite quickly and we were very thankful to get the last room.
"My husband's got a meeting tomorrow in Auckland which people have flown in from overseas for. But he's most likely going to be trapped here."
Motels in Tairua reported increased bookings due to the road closures, with Blue Water Motel being fully booked and Tairua Shores Motel only having one room left.
Staff said this was uncharacteristic for this time of year but reported the rain had stopped about 5pm.
High river levels in the Karangahake Gorge today after heavy rain. Photo / Allison Whitney
The Thames-Coromandel District Council said four sections of the state highway network were closed across the district and more may be affected later because of the rising river levels and the king tide at 8.45pm.
SH25 was closed at Manaia and SH25 Whitianga to Kaimarama were closed due to flooding and SH25A Kopu- Hikuai was closed due to a slip.
SH25 (Thames Coast Rd) was also closed 3km south of Tapu because of a slip.
A staff member at Te Puru Holiday Park said it had three families that booked in to stay because they couldn't get through to Coromandel.
"It was just really heavy rain. Nothing we aren't used to," she said.
The only flooding the campsite had was in the toilet block.
She said they were not concerned about the oncoming king tide which was more likely to affect Miranda and Maramarua.
The Waikato Regional Council will be activating the Kauaeranga spillway on SH25 and, with excessive amounts of water in the Kauaeranga Valley, the road could be closed into late tonight or even tomorrow.
This is the latest photo someone has sent us of slip between Tairua and Kopu. So not looking like vehicles will be able...
Heavy downpours had also nearly closed roads on the southern approaches to the peninsula with SH25 nearly under water south of Tairua and surface flooding on SH2 between Paeroa and SH1.
By noon the Coromandel ranges had already had of 107.5mm of rain recorded since 7pm yesterday and heavy rain warnings remain in place for the region.
MetService predicted 60mm to 90mm of rain to fall across the peninsula between 9am and 6pm today with as much as 20mm to 30mm an hour at its worst.
Locals were also reporting Main Rd into Thames at Rhodes Park was under water with the level continuing to rise as the tide came in.
Herald reader Babette Maas sent in a photo of cars passing through waters up to their axles, saying it was likely the dreadful weather conditions would lead to parts of SH2 becoming impassable shortly.
Travelling from Waihi Beach back to Auckland, she said traffic slowed to a crawl near Maramarua because of the floodwaters.
Photo / Babette Maas
"All of a sudden there was water on the road and there is not a lot you can do, you have to go through, and that was probably as deep as we could go with our car," she said.
"There was hardly any visibility, even driving slow … we're glad to be back in our house."
Flooding has closed SH25 between Whitianga and Kaimarama while on the other side, SH25A (Kopu-Hikuai Rd) has been blocked by a slip through the Coromandel Forest Park. Photo / Supplied
A Herald reporter said traffic heading north along SH2 was backed up from about Okaeria Rd to Maramarua and cars were moving at a snail's pace.
Cars were backed up from the roundabout connecting SH2 and SH25. Traffic was lined up heading north along SH25 for a couple of kilometres.
SH25A through to Tairua was blocked off from the start of the highway, at the intersection off SH26 and Kirikiri West Rd.
There were several small slips between Thames and Whakatete Bay, resulting in mounds of dirt and debris on the road.
SH25 was blocked from Waiomu through to Coromandel due to a slip. Crews were working to remove debris but the word was it may take several hours before it will be clear.
About eight cars were parked in convoy at the northern end near Waiomu and were being let through in small groups with a pilot vehicle in front of them.
A person at the scene said he had been told a tree had fallen over and the whole bank gave way when they went to remove the tree. Flooding had also caused a car to become stuck. It was awaiting a tow truck.
Residents in Matatoki, south of Thames, are also facing a shortage of drinking water.
"Some customers may be experiencing low water pressures or possibly no water," Thames-Coromandel District Council spokeswoman Laurna White said.
"We are sending a water tanker at Matatoki School for any customers experiencing problems with their water supply. Please bring your own container and water will need to be boiled before consumption."
💦 Flooding observed near Whitianga.
Whitianga has been one of the wettest locations in New Zealand today with over 80mm of rain so far.
A major slip has closed East Coast Rd in Kaiaua about 2km north of Waharau.
Miranda Rd was also closed near Findlay Rd and traffic was becoming backed up in the area. Traffic was being diverted at the intersection of East Coast Rd, Miranda Rd and Front Miranda Rd.
There was also a lot of surface flooding on Kaiaua Rd and the area in general. Motorists heading back to Auckland from Coromandel or Tauranga were asked to avoid these routes altogether.
Elsewhere, Taranaki motorists are being warned to take care as strong winds hit the area.
The strong winds are hitting SH45, between New Plymouth and Opunake, and trees are down in some places. Police asked motorists to take extra care or delay non-urgent travel.
The wild weather and gale-force winds earlier closed roads, felled trees, flooded properties and caused power cuts in Auckland.
The downpours hit the north early today, bringing 34.5mm of rain in one hour to some Auckland suburbs, while easterly gusts reached up to 113km/h in the Hauraki Gulf.
Albany recorded 31.3mm of rain between 7am and 8am today - the third-wettest hour since records for that area began almost nine years ago, according to Niwa.
Coromandel and East Coast residents are now bearing the brunt of the wet and windy weather that earlier wreaked havoc across Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The heavy rain brought plenty of surface flooding to low-lying areas, causing disruptions on some of Auckland's busiest roads.
Motorists were delayed on the Northern Motorway with the brief closures of Oteha Valley Rd on-ramp and two of its lanes in Rosedale.
Tāmaki Drive has also reopened after being closed around high tide.
Meanwhile those on SH1 in Warkworth faced major delays after a car hit a power pole.
Photo / Simon Soulsby
Contractors have now opened SH28 with a stop-go system in place but NZTA still warns of delays.
Northlanders, Aucklanders and those along the coast in the Bay of Plenty were warned to watch out for flooding as rain and high winds coincide with a king tide this morning and again this evening.
High tide in Auckland this morning was at 8.53am. The next high tide is at 9.19pm.
Whangarei Rain, with heavy falls, easing to a few showers late morning as strong easterlies change lighter northerly. Chance thunderstorm. High 17C low 9C
Auckland Rain, heavy and possibly thundery, with easterly gales, gusting 120 km/h. Rain and winds easing towards evening. High 16C low 10C
Hamilton Rain developing morning, possibly heavy, as easterlies become strong. Rain easing evening as winds change lighter northerly. High 15C low 8C
Tauranga Showers turning to rain morning, with heavy falls, as easterlies become strong. Possible evening thunderstorms. Weather easing overnight. High 16C low 9C
Wellington A fine day, then cloud increasing and some evening rain. Light winds. High 15C low 10C
