A flood alert system has been activated north of Auckland as heavy rain continues to hit the upper North Island, with Metservice warning intense downpours could cause flooding into tonight.
The flood alert system on the Mahurangi River at Falls Rd near Warkworth was activated today, with Auckland Emergency Management asking motorists to avoid the area.
"Please avoid taking Falls Rd, particularly the sections where the road fords the river or that are typically affected by flooding," it said.
The Mahurangi River was the scene of a fatal incident during severe weather in January, when a Kiribati man was swept away by floodwaters. His body was later recovered from the river.
Today's flood alert came as a low-pressure system moved down from the north, "bringing periods heavy rain across" much of the upper North Island.
MetService forecaster Samkero Magwala told 1News the rain and localised downpours would continue through this afternoon and evening before beginning to ease overnight.
"The main concern is a lot of rain falling in a short period of time that results in flash flooding," Magwala said.
Magwala said accumulated rainfall meant the risk of surface flooding would continue throughout the afternoon and evening, with poor visibility also likely to cause disruption on the roads.
He advised people to stay indoors where possible and urged motorists who needed to travel to take care and check MetService forecasts.
When will conditions ease?
Conditions were expected to improve early Sunday as the low moved southeast away from the country, Magwala said.
"Things will start easing tomorrow morning. When people wake up, conditions will be better," he said.
Rain across Northland was forecast to ease to showers this evening, while the rain affecting Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Taupō was likely to ease to showers early Sunday.
Rain in Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay was also expected to clear by Sunday morning.
Elsewhere, southern Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury were forecast to remain generally fine, while showers were expected along the West Coast of the South Island.
Showers across parts of Otago and Southland were forecast to potentially become heavy, with possible hail.
Monday was expected to bring showers mainly to western and southern parts of the North Island, while Gisborne and Hawke's Bay would remain generally fine.
Further unsettled weather was expected later next week, with Magwala saying another front was expected to move north over the South Island around Wednesday.
Full list of watches and warnings
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Northland – 15 hours from 8am to 11pm Saturday.
Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 17 hours from 9am Saturday to 2am Sunday.
Coromandel Peninsula – 17 hours from 10am Saturday to 3am Sunday.
Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria – 17 hours from noon Saturday to 5am Sunday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Waikato north of Hamilton – 14 hours from noon Saturday to 2am Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Southern areas of Southland and Clutha – 27 hours from 9am Sunday to noon Monday.
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