Heavy rain could cause flooding tonight and tomorrow

File photo / Wanganui Chronicle

People in northern and eastern areas of the North Island are being advised to take precautions as heavy rains threaten to sweep across those regions tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.

A MetService severe weather warning has been lifted for Auckland but remains in place for Northland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty and has been extended to include Hawke's Bay, where up to 100mm of rain is possible today and Tuesday morning.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council issued warnings advising farmers to move stock to high ground and for people to avoid travel unless necessary.

MetService predicted between 100 and 150mm of rain to fall about the ranges in Bay of Plenty in the 15 hours starting about 9pm today, with 70 to 100mm possible elsewhere in the region. Rains there could reach between 25 and 40mm per hour on Tuesday morning.

Thames-Coromandel District Council civil defence manager Ron White said rain in Coromandel would be probably be intense, with 120 to 180mm expected to fall about the ranges, and 70 to 100mm elsewhere in the region.

"If it's very short then that's okay, but if it goes on for a longer time we could have problems. At the end of January we had $6.5 million worth of roading damage and that's what we're very susceptible to," Mr White said.

"There's a chance that it may not be any more than a normal rain event, but having said that, I've said that before and then it turns nasty on you."

Northland Regional Council civil defence officer Graeme MacDonald said it was unlikely the rain would cause any significant problems there, but the council had made contact with owners of properties which tended to flood during these weather events.

WeatherWatch.co.nz warned people to be aware of rising streams and rivers.

Heavy rain, coupled with a large full moon, strong winds, lowering air pressure and high-running streams and rivers could also create minor coastal flooding, Weatherwatch said.

- NZPA