Worse weather is in store as Cyclone Donna tracks along the North Island's coastline today bringing more rain and gales.
A slip has closed State Highway 2 in the Waimana Gorge, Bay of Plenty, after the region was deluged by intense rain overnight. The Pekatahi Bridge is also closed and drivers are advised to detour via Whakatane and Ohope.
A slip on the Pukekohe train line in Auckland has closed the tracks until further notice. Buses are replacing trains between Papakura and Pukekohe.
Pukekohe Line is currently suspended until further notice due to a track obstruction. Buses will replace trains btwn Papakura & Pukekohe ^HC pic.twitter.com/3rOf4jcfrZ
— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) May 12, 2017
Heavy rain has also brought down slips across the Paekakariki Hill Rd north of Wellington, closing the road.
Due to a large slip, SH2 Waimana Gorge is now CLOSED south of Taneatua. A detour is in place. Expect delays in area & take extra care. ^LC pic.twitter.com/7On4TPFArA
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) May 11, 2017
Temperatures in the upper North Island are hitting a balmy 20C as the tropical rain closes in on northern and eastern regions, and slips have been reported in
.
A logging truck ended up on its side in the Bay of Plenty about 3am, scattering logs across the road, on State Highway 2 at the Matata Straights. No one was injured.
ROAD CLOSED: Paekakariki Hill Rd is has been closed to southbound traffic only due to multiple slips. Please use #SH1 and #SH58. ^IF pic.twitter.com/F0XX6SpD6a
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) May 11, 2017
A truck carrying offal also tipped over on Bruntwood Rd in Tamahere, on the edge of Hamilton, at 5.30am.
Also in Waikato, a truck uncoupled and tipped over at a roundabout in Gordonton Rd.
Forecasters say there is no reprieve from the big wet, but the week will end on a wintry note.
As well as the heavy rain across much of the central and upper North Island, the north of the country can expect to be battered by gales today.
Huge amounts of rain have fallen overnight. Parts of the cyclone-weary Bay of Plenty have already recorded up to 110mm of rain since Thursday.
24hr rainfall totals derived from several radars up to 6am today. Over 100mm fell in Taranaki and Rotorua areas. https://t.co/prKU7O2R01.^AB pic.twitter.com/2jNhSXlKvA
— MetService (@MetService) May 11, 2017
Virtually all of the North Island remains under rain and wind warnings and watches today as the remnants of Donna skirts the eastern coastline.
MetService forecaster Heath Gullery said heavy rain fell across the island overnight and some regions would not get relief from the wet weather until 6pm.
MetService Severe Weather Warnings in Red, Watches in Orange in this diagram. For the complete picture go to https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X. ^AB pic.twitter.com/sHnsj3Oa3P
— MetService (@MetService) May 11, 2017
Last night, Bay of Plenty's peak rainfall came between 10pm and 11pm, when one weather station recorded 33mm in an hour.
Gullery said the tropical rain would move down the North Island's East Coast during the day before eventually moving away to the east.
Yet the upper North Island sweltered in balmy 20C temperatures overnight.
This was expected to be short-lived, as a new cold snap will send temperatures plunging during the day.
Gullery said gales were also expected to hit northern districts this morning and last throughout the day.
A fresh thunderstorm alert has issued for Bay of Plenty and Gisborne with storms likely to hit the regions today.
Weatherwatch.co.nz warned Auckland commuters to take care driving to work this morning when heavy downpours are likely to lead to areas of localised flooding.
Current view 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/p7st3wtYRm
— Phil Goff (@phil_goff) May 11, 2017
The Thames-Coromandel District Council said there had been heavy rain overnight but there had been no reports so far of slips or road closures.
Bay of Plenty and Gisborne residents were earlier warned to prepare for the day-long deluge, stock up on food and water and ensure pets were safe.
Edgecumbe residents and farmers were being reassured that measures had been taken to make the district as safe as possible from the forecast rain and the town's stop bank is not expected to come under threat.
Donna is the third ex-tropical cyclone to hit New Zealand in two months, after Cyclone Debbie devastated parts of the Bay of Plenty in April.
Whangarei: Heavy downpours today, easing to showers. Strong winds today and Saturday. H 21C, L 9C.
Auckland: Heavy downpours this morning, strong southerly winds until Saturday. H 19C, L 7C.
Hamilton: Heavy falls ease today. Becoming fine Saturday. H 19C, L 2C.
Tauranga: Heavy downpours ease by this evening. Heavy rain Saturday. H 20C, L 7C.
Napier: Heavy falls and possible gales today and Saturday. H 18C, L 7C
Wellington: Early Friday rain easing to showers through Saturday. Southerlies, gales on both days. H 14C, L 7C