Weather: Two slips block Coromandel road

A slip on 306 Rd. Photo / Supplied

Two slips are blocking 309 Rd in the Coromandel as the region tries to dry out following days of rain.

A slip is blocking both sides of the road roughly 13km from Coromandel Town, Thames Coromandel District Council said this morning.

“Our roading contractor Ventia is heading there now to clear. The slip is larger than originally anticipated.

“The road is expected to remain closed for the majority of the day,” the council said via social media.

There is also a second slip blocking 309 Rd about 1.8km from the Whitianga side.

A Ventia crew is on site.

Old Coach Rd remains closed 1.9km from the start of the road due to a large slip.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is currently listing no state highway road closures in Thames-Coromandel District.

The Waikato Regional Council station at Golden Cross in the Coromandel Range recorded 145mm in the 24-hour period yesterday.

Other amounts recorded were 114.5mm in the Pinnacles in the Coromandel, 72mm in Golden Valley 6km north of Waihi, 39.6mm in Whitianga, 46mm in Tauranga, 47.2mm in Whakatāne and 47.5mm in Rotorua.

More bad weather is on the way over the next few days, at least, with weather experts forecasting more rain and thunderstorms.

A large high-pressure system lying east of New Zealand is bringing air from the subtropics over the country.

The MetService says those warm and humid conditions are therefore set to continue throughout the weekend, at least, with no signs of the weather system moving on any time soon.

“Whether you get periods of rain or just a few showers, everywhere is set to see some rainfall,” the weather authority said.

As of late this morning, there are no severe weather warnings or watches in place.

WeatherWatch says a front sliding in out of the Tasman Sea will bring rain into the North Island tomorrow.

Slip about 1km from the start of Old Coach Rd in Kaimarama, Coromandel. Photo / Thames Coromandel District Council