The transport agency has warned of strong winds on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge as the top of the country braces for up to 24 hours of rain later today.
A MetService meteorologist told the Herald this could just be a prelude to even worse weather than what was seen over the past 48 hours and which inundated parts of Northland.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has warned Auckland drivers to drive to the conditions across the Harbour Bridge with wind gusts of 75-85km/h forecast between 7am and 8pm tomorrow.
“The bridge will remain in 4x4 configuration throughout the day tomorrow,” NZTA said.
“Motorists are advised pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway, which will advise if any lane closures and reduced speed limits are required.
“If there is a potential for sudden and high wind gusts on the bridge, lowering the speed limit gives motorists time to react and take more care.”
Auckland’s North Shore and Aotea Great Barrier Island have 15-hour heavy rain watches starting at midnight, while a 24-hour heavy rain watch has been placed on the Coromandel Peninsula from midnight tonight.
Northland’s heavy rain watch will last 18 hours, starting at 6pm, and follows a weekend deluge that caused widespread flooding, trapping people in communities and seeing landslides ruin properties.
MetService has warned that streams and rivers may rise rapidly in the affected areas, with surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions possible.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows told the Herald the wet weather this evening is caused by a “persistent moisture-laden easterly flow” coming down from the tropics.
There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms in Northland before dawn tomorrow with downpours of more than 40mm per hour possible, while much of Auckland faces similar conditions.
Severe Weather Update ⚠️
— MetService NZ (@MetService) January 18, 2026
Further heavy rain expected for the North Island 🌧️
🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for Northland
🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watches for Auckland (north of the Harbour Bridge) and Great Barrier Island
🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for the Coromandel Peninsula… pic.twitter.com/C7bBMwbNWQ
These conditions are forecast to stick around into the afternoon and evening, but the thunderstorm risk expands into Coromandel.
“The main causes of [the wet weather] are this warm, moist tropical wedge of air that we’ve got over the country at the moment and with the easterly flow it’s hitting the east of the country and condensing into rain,” Burrows said.
Civil Defence Northland has encouraged people in the region to remain prepared for unsettled conditions as rainfall totals might “approach or exceed warning criteria in some areas”.
Meanwhile, Auckland Emergency Management has encouraged those in the region to prepare for the rain by keeping up to date with forecasts, clearing leaves and debris from gutters and drains to reduce flooding or water damage, secure outdoor furniture, trampolines and loose items, having access to a generator in more rural areas, and to have an emergency plan if the need to evacuate arises.
However, Burrows told the Herald there’s a chance the conditions will be “worse” than what Northland experienced over the weekend from Wednesday.
“We’ve got that low pressure system and that is expected to bring significant amounts of rain and strong winds with that,” she said.
“I think from Wednesday, we could see even greater amounts of rain, so at the moment we have got those yellow heavy rain watches out, but there is a moderate confidence that they’ll be upgraded to warnings on Wednesday.”
Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper said eyes are now turning to the rainy weather later this week “which may produce further landslips and disruption” while roading crews try to clear slips and open roads as much as they can.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Couper said those in the worst-hit areas believe the recent flooding is worse than Cyclone Gabrielle, but the council is doing all they can to help those affected.
“We’ve got saturated ground already. If we get more rain, it’s continuing with light rain up here. If we get more rain and it’s heavy, we want to be ready for that.”
Torrential rain caused severe damage in the Far North on Saturday and Sunday, with Whangārei Deputy Mayor Scott McKenzie sharing pictures of Ōākura Community Hall wrecked by trees from a mudslide.
Elsewhere, lightning strikes cut power, towns were isolated by flooding and slips interrupted travel.
Burrows said the low will pass over the North Island, causing more damage, on Thursday, but conditions should improve for the region beyond then.
“On Friday, we should be through the worst of it and there’s a minimal risk of severe weather across the country for Friday and Saturday.”