Schools forced to close as wild weather blocks bus routes

A herd of cows were trapped by floodwaters in Hokianga after a deluge in Northland. Photo / Csilla Janovski, My Little Eye Photography

Hundreds of children missed school, commuters were stranded and a herd of cows was left in a spot of bother yesterday as a deluge hit the north of the country.

A low-pressure system brought heavy rain to Northland yesterday morning, flooding roads as rivers topped their banks and power was cut to parts of the Far North.

Hours of non-stop rain caused flooding in Kaeo, Taipa and Kaitaia.

Rain and high tides sent a herd of cows in the Hokianga scrambling for higher ground, forcing them to huddle on an island in the middle of floodwaters near Opononi. They have since escaped unscathed.

Kaeo and Peria Schools closed after bus routes were blocked by water. Creative Minds Early Learning Centre was cut off after Omauna Rd was inundated.

The Waihou River breached its banks west of Rangiahua Rd just before midday, making the road impassable until late afternoon.

One dairy owner had to use a tractor to get through rising waters to reach her shop near Kaitaia. The region had 54mm in 10 hours - more rain than the entire month of June, according to Niwa.

Bush Fairy Dairy worker Emily Parker said she woke to floodwaters more than half a metre high submerging the backdoor steps of her home yesterday morning.

Roads surrounding the Peria store east of Kaitaia were under water and the owner needed to use a tractor to open and close the shop.

Swollen rivers were dropping by the afternoon, Northland Civil Defence spokesman Murray Soljak said.

Many of the worst-affected areas such as Kaeo and Rangiahua were known trouble spots that were adversely affected by tides, he said.

The low moved down the country last night, bringing severe weather warnings for the Bay of Plenty.

The Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne were bracing for heavy rain and possible thunderstorms to hit last night, when 25mm was due over five hours.

MetService said the Bay could expect between 80mm to 110mm over an 15-18-hour period, with rain continuing through until 10pm this evening.

Strong winds were also causing swells of up to 6.6m off the coast of Tauranga, combining with high tide to close coastal walking routes.

Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula were set to miss out on the worst rain, although thunderstorms were possible around the Coromandel.

MetService was warning of more rain last night. The heaviest falls were likely north of Orewa.

MetService meteorologist Brian Mercer said the East Cape and eastern Bay of Plenty would be worst affected.

The low pressure system continues to move over the island today, with rain easing to showers. Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and the eastern ranges could still see thunderstorms before dawn this morning, Mercer said.

"Later in the afternoon and evening there's another system of showers and there could also be thunderstorms associated with that."

Wellington was still due for rain from late afternoon, possibly heavy.

The South Island was due for a cold few days, with snow reported on the top of the Crown Range and ski fields at Mt Hutt.

Weatherwatch said snow flurries could fall to about 500m this morning about South Canterbury and down to 800m for North Canterbury.

Forecast

Whangarei
Today: Morning showers. Light northerlies, turning strong southwesterly evening. 18C
Tomorrow: Rain easing to showers late morning. Strong southwesterly easing. 15C

Auckland
Today: Morning showers. Northeasterlies, dying out in the evening. 18C
Tomorrow: Rain easing to afternoon showers. Strong southwesterly easing. 15C

Tauranga
Today: Showers, some heavy. Northeasterlies dying out afternoon. 18C
Tomorrow: Showers to rain afternoon, clearing. Southwesterlies developing morning. 16C

Hamilton
Today: Showers, some heavy. Northeasterlies dying out in the evening. 17C
Tomorrow: Rain, easing to afternoon showers. Southwesterlies. 14C

Napier
Today: Rain easing to morning showers. Northeasterlies, strong for a time. 17C
Tomorrow: Showers, possibly heavy in evening, northeasterlies turn southwest. 15C

Wellington
Today: Periods of rain. Southerlies. 13C
Tomorrow: Rain, easing afternoon, clearing evening. Southerlies die out evening. 12C