Flooding swamps North Island highway as heavy rain lashes NZ

Flooding has swamped and closed a North Island highway as heavy rain lashes parts of New Zealand, with more expected into the afternoon. 

MetService said rain was expected to move north across the North Island today, with heavier bursts possible in Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty before conditions improve later in the day. 

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said SH3 in the Awakino Gorge had been reduced to one lane after being closed earlier this morning by heavy rainfall and flooding. 

“Stop/go traffic management is in place where flooding is affecting one lane of the highway.” 

Motorists were advised to expect delays and take extra care through the gorge, between New Plymouth and Hamilton, today. 

The flooding comes after another North Island highway was blocked by a fallen tree earlier this morning. 

NZTA said SH57 at Aokautere, in Manawatū, was blocked near the intersection with the Pahīatua Track, with emergency services at the scene at 6am. 

The road has since reopened. 

MetService said heavy rain was forecast for parts of Otago, with North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha under a heavy rain watch until 4pm today. 

MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said further heavy rain was possible around Wairoa and northern Bay of Plenty tomorrow, with strong winds around Wellington and the coast south of Taranaki. 

“Generally speaking, the worst of the rain should have moved on by Friday.” 

Meanwhile, temperatures are set to plummet by as much as 16C as a chilly blast of Southern Ocean air drags up the country. 

Hastings reached 28C yesterday but is forecast to reach just 12C tomorrow, while Gisborne is expected to drop from 25C to 12C over the same period. 

Lynden told the Herald a cold front was moving north, with a “southerly kick” bringing much colder air behind it. 

“That wind is coming from right down in the Southern Ocean ... That will mean some cooler temperatures for the South Island again.” 

Dunedin is forecast to reach 10C today, as are Queenstown and Wānaka. Alexandra has an expected high of 11C. 

The North Island will remain relatively warm today, with temperatures in the high teens and low 20s, before the cold southerly change arrives tomorrow. 

Snow could fall on higher South Island roads today, including the Crown Range, Arthur’s Pass and the Lewis Pass. However, Lynden said significant snowfall was unlikely. 

He warned motorists to keep a close eye on the forecast, particularly those travelling through the central North Island tomorrow. 

“There is the potential for snow to low levels, about 800m, which would definitely impact the Desert Road.” 

A ridge of high pressure is expected to bring more settled conditions over the weekend, though temperatures will remain cool. 

“That’ll see southerly winds continue, but it will see winds generally ease through the weekend and more fine spells,” Lynden said. 

“So I’d expect many places, certainly by Sunday, to see some more fine breaks.” 

However, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa could remain cloudy and chilly as southerly winds persist. 

Frost is possible in parts of the Central Plateau and inland South Island on Friday or Saturday morning. 

Lynden said the temperature extremes were “just the general swing of the weather”, typical of spring.