Flash floods hit North Island, as storm brews across the country

Wednesday, 3 January 2018

A downpour in Masterton causes flash flooding on Wednesday evening.

Flash floods hit the North Island, after the MetService warned of a wave of flooding, thunderstorms and king tides for the country.

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A deepening sub-tropical low that emerged on Tuesday is spreading across northern and central New Zealand, and watches and warnings are in place for heavy rain and severe gales.

A storm passes over Martinborough on Wednesday evening. There's much more to come for northern and central areas of the country on Thursday.

Masterton resident Chayla Beaver said flash flooding hit the town about 6.30pm on Wednesday, and it lasted for more than 20 minutes.

'It was quite gnarly,' Beaver said. 'It was the eye of the storm, with thunder and lightning and just a lot of rain all at once.'

* Heavy rain, severe gales, coastal flooding closing in

* Storm threatens holiday plans in Coromandel and Bay of Plenty**

Thunderstorms were spreading along the southern Tararua and Orongorongo Ranges, the MetService said.

A couple of small, but intense, thunderstorm cells are tracking along the southern Tararua and Orongorongo Ranges. Heavy rain may affect Upper Hutt, Whitemans Valley and possibly Wainuomata. ^AG https://t.co/t0Qsn2S2ro

— MetService (@MetService) January 3, 2018

The heaviest rain was expected in Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty, Mount Taranaki, Marlborough, and Nelson.

A warning for severe gales was in place for the upper North Island - from Taranaki to the Bay of Plenty and northwards.

Coastal flooding and inundation were a risk in the Coromandel, where heavy rain, large swells and king tides were expected on Thursday evening.

Thames-Coromandel District Council spokesman Michael Dobie said 'people should be prepared to be cut-off, potentially'.

MetService forecaster April Clark said on Thursday the weather could bring showers and gales for Manawatū, while Friday was expected to bring more widespread rain.

The low was expected to spread across central New Zealand on Friday, reaching the upper South Island, before moving away from the country on Saturday.

In a storm, The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management advised people to take shelter, move cars away from trees, secure loose objects around properties, and check that gutters and drains are clear.

The MetService urged people to be aware of surface flooding and poor driving conditions.