Whangārei Heads Volunteer Fire Brigade was tasked with removing a large tree that had come down in the bad weather and landed on a vehicle trapping a motorist on Pataua South Rd.
Three fire trucks remain on the road, which is currently blocked by the tree. The spokesperson said it may be a while before the road is clear due to the flooding.
Northland police reported flooding across the region and urged motorists to drive with caution, especially in and around Whangārei.
Officers were being kept busy as they had received a number of calls for help.
According to the Whangārei District Council, the Ngunguru River "is very high" and may flood. The council encouraged people to avoid Scows Landing if possible, and to pass with "extreme caution".
A Dargaville resident reported Waihue Bridge had flooded.
Floodwaters are halfway across Valley Rd in Hikurangi near the railway crossing.
A band of rain is moving south and rain in the Far North has already eased, MetService forecaster Aidan Pyselman said.
"You're still going to have rain late tonight, but it should start easing in a couple of hours."
One weather station between Ngunguru and Whananaki received 136.4mm of rain in the past 24 hours, Pyselman said. Whangārei Airport received 80mm over the same period.
The rain was heavier in the Whangārei District than further north, with Kerikeri receiving 53.8mm of rain, and Dargaville 39mm.
Whangārei has had more than 8mm of rain an hour over the plast two hours.
"That's potentially another 15 or 20mm in the next couple of hours. By midnight Whangārei could be up around 100mm," Pyselman said.
No heavy rain was expected tomorrow, he added - just "the odd shower".
Metservice issued a heavy rain watch from 7am today, which expires at 8pm.
