A flood alert system has been activated north of Auckland as heavy rain continues across the upper North Island, with forecasters warning that intense downpours could trigger flooding through Saturday evening.
According to a report by 1News, the alert was activated on the Mahurangi River at Falls Rd near Warkworth, prompting Auckland Emergency Management to urge 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, as quoted by 1News.
The Mahurangi River was also the site 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.
The latest flooding concerns came as a low-pressure system moved down from the north, “bringing periods heavy rain across” much of the upper North Island, 1News has reported.
MetService forecaster Samkero Magwala said rain and localised downpours were expected to continue through the afternoon and evening before easing overnight.
“The main concern is a lot of rain falling in a short period of time that results in flash flooding,” Magwala said, as quoted by 1News.
He said accumulated rainfall meant the threat of surface flooding would remain through the afternoon and evening. Poor visibility could also make driving conditions hazardous.
According to 1News, Magwala advised people to remain indoors where possible and urged those who needed to travel to exercise caution and check the latest MetService forecasts.
Conditions were expected to improve early Sunday as the low-pressure system moved southeast away from New Zealand.
“Things will start easing tomorrow morning. When people wake up, conditions will be better,” Magwala said, 1News has quoted.
Rain in Northland was expected to ease to showers on Saturday evening, while Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Taupō were likely to see rain ease to showers early Sunday.
Rain in Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay was also forecast to clear by Sunday morning, as reported by 1News.
Elsewhere, southern Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury were expected to remain generally fine, while showers were forecast along the West Coast of the South Island.
Showers in parts of Otago and Southland could become heavy, with hail also possible, 1News has reported.
On Monday, showers were expected mainly across western and southern parts of the North Island, while Gisborne and Hawke's Bay were forecast to remain generally fine.
Further unsettled weather could arrive later next week, with another front expected to move north across the South Island around Wednesday, 1News has reported.
Heavy Rain Warning- Orange
Heavy Rain Watch
Strong Wind Watch
Authorities are urging people in affected areas to stay alert to changing conditions and avoid roads and low-lying areas prone to flooding.