Heavy rain causes damage across the North Island

Flooding in Opunake. Photo / Supplied via Facebook

Wild weather has swept across the North Island causing flooding in Taranaki and forcing one Auckland family to evacuate their home.

Up to 30 houses have been damaged and some evacuated in western Taranaki after heavy rain caused flooding in the region early this morning.

Schools and roads are also closed in the Opunake area and a Civil Defence Centre was opened to assist those forced from their homes.

Fire crews attended call outs to houses in Domett St, Ponderosa Pl, King St and Gisborne Tce.

Opunake High School, Opunake Primary School and St Joseph school are all closed.

It's definitely pretty wet in Opunake #flood pic.twitter.com/vXRRC4eBw0

— Kate Pereyra Garcia (@k8chap) August 5, 2015

AA Roadwatch has advised motorists to take extreme care on State Highway 45 between Opunake and Hawera due to flooding.

A Taranaki Regional Council spokesman said between 20 and 30 homes were damaged in Opunake the heavy deluge between 5am and 9am this morning.

"That damage is currently being assessed," he said.

Fire Service spokesman Hamish Barham said about 20 calls were received between 6am and 9am.

"We had just under 20 calls, I am not sure how many ended in evacuations but I do know at least some of them did."

A Civil Defence Centre was established at Stanford Event Centre for those needing assistance.

South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop said the flood gave little warning.

"It was just such a quick, severe event that hit the town about 6.30am this morning.

"All seemed good in the night, there was rain overnight but it didn't seem to be causing any trouble and then suddenly a flood came down through the middle of Opunake."

Mr Dunlop was out visiting those affected by the "traumatic event"

"It's just really surprising the sheer volume of water," he said.

"A number of residents have been affected with water through their houses, so it is a traumatic event."

Flooding in Opunake. Photo / Supplied via Facebook

Met Service Meteorologist Rob Kerr said the nearest weather station to Opunake, at Cape Egmont, recorded 105mm of rain overnight, with 23.4mm recorded in the hour until 6am.

Photos had emerged on social media of submerged properties, cars and paddocks.

The forecast was set to clear for the remainder of the day, said Mr Kerr.

Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller David Lean was unavailable for immediate comment.

"A lot of rain coming in off the mountain"

Mr Kerr said the heavy rain was caused by a low centre that crossed the western Taranaki region overnight.

There was high rainfall on the western side of Mt Taranaki, with 148mm recorded at the highest weather station.

"If there is a lot of rain coming in off the mountain then that might be what the flooding was caused by."

He said the weather was due to settle in the region, but a new front was moving up the western sides of both islands today and overnight.

It was likely to bring wild weather to the South Island today and this evening, hitting the North Island about midnight.

"It will bring squally showers, it will be quite windy with potential thunder storms and small hail."

The southwest front was likely to leave snowfall in its wake on the west coast of the South Island, on the Canterbury plains and the Desert Rd area.

Wild weather across the city saw a home on Godden Crescent evacuated at 4.30am. Photo / Brad Ambrose

Family evacuated after weather bomb

Meanwhile, a house was evacuated in Orakei after a bank collapsed, and trees were felled by strong winds in Auckland overnight.

Wild weather across the city saw a home on Godden Crescent evacuated at 4.30am, after a bank behind it collapsed amid heavy rainfall overnight.

A fire service spokesman said the house was being renovated, but a person was living in it at the time.

He also said a number of trees were felled by strong wind overnight.

Weather Watch forecaster Philip Duncan said downpours in Auckland city last night were heavy, and quite a few people said they were woken up by intense rains and wind gusts overnight.