Road shuts due to flooding, vehicles trapped as storm batters upper North Island

May 31, 2020

TVNZ weather presenter Dan Corbett gives the latest update.

Severe weather is battering the upper North Island today, with cars reportedly trapped and roads closed due to flooding.

State Highway 25 from Hikuai to Whitianga in the Coromandel Peninsula was closed this morning due to coastal flooding overnight, the NZTA warning motorists to avoid the affected areas or delay travel. The road has since re-opened.

There were also two reports of cars stuck in floodwaters, a police spokesperson told 1 NEWS.

The spokesperson said both incidents "were not major" and there were "nil issues" when police and FENZ responded to help the drivers.

NZTA also reported a slip in Northland last night west of Brynderwen which closed the SH12 route to Maungaturoto. 

Both roads are now open again, but motorists are being told to "take extra care" in the areas.

A person standing in a storm underneath an umbrella.

A severe weather warning is in place for the upper North Island, including Coromandel and Northland, from noon today to tomorrow evening.

A sub-tropical storm is expected to bring heavy rain and gale force winds.

Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler said a significant storm could be expected after a dry summer, with slips and surface flooding to be expected.

MetService forecasts around 100-130mm of rain to accumulate over the next day in Northland, with Coromandel estimated to receive around 120-160mm of rain.

A strong wind watch is also in place from 6pm today to 2pm tomorrow in Northland and Coromandel, MetService warning easterly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

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