Northland weather: Heavy rain to clear, scattered showers expected after weekend of flooding and power outages

Northland can expect showers this week. Photo / File

A long weekend of heavy rain and wind which resulted in flooding, fallen trees, and power outages in Northland is expected to clear.

Metservice meteorologist Claire Slynn said from about 11am Saturday to 11am Monday there had been 107.4mm of rain in Whangārei, 86.4mm in Kerikeri, and 74.6mm in Kaitāia.

Although more heavy rain was expected in the region last night, the weather is likely to clear later in the week.

"[Today] this weather system moves away and then Northland will just kind of have a few showers scattered around the region," Slynn said.

The heaviest period of rain for Whangārei was 14.2mm between 7am to 9am on Sunday, while Kaitāia had 16.4mm of rain between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday.

Whangārei also received a downpour of 11.4mm of rain between 8am and 9am yesterday.

Slynn said there were reasonably strong winds yesterdaymorning; 59km/h gusts in Whangārei and winds up to 65km/h in Kerikeri and Kaitāia.

Whangārei police Senior Sergeant Darren Sullivan said police received reports of surface flooding on SH1 at Waiomio, Harris Rd, Glenbervie, Waipu, Onerahi and Hukerenui and a tree had fallen on SH10 Pakaraka. He was not aware of any diversions in place.

Top Energy spokeswoman Philippa White said there was a 15-minute weather-related power outage in Pukepoto about 2.30am yesterdaywhich affected 988 customers.

The outage came after 235 houses were without power for five hours on Saturday after a car crashed into a power pole on SH12 Taheke, bringing down the lines.

Whangarei District Council reported heavy rain brought down a tree which blocked the Hatea River walkway at Mair Park about 500m from the Whareora Rd entrance on Sunday.

Northland road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Row said the bad weather had definitely put some people off their long weekend travels.

He said there had been a few crashes over the weekend, including one driver who had been reported as overtaking on State Highway 1 at 130km/h before crashing and injuring their arm. Row said it was "crazy behaviour" particularly given the weather and increased traffic.

He said Friday had been busy on Northland's roads, but yesterday was quieter than expected, which suggested people had gone home earlier than expected.

Row said police were out and about yesterday afternoon and evening as holiday-makers headed home.

The New Zealand Transport Agency had predicted southbound traffic between 11.30am and 2.30pm at Whangarei and between 10.30am and 4pm at Kawakawa would be the heaviest yesterday.