Strong winds of up to 120km/h are being forecast in parts of Auckland and Northland today, with warnings that gusts may damage trees and powerlines and make for dangerous driving conditions.
A new "rainmaker" is striking New Zealand, with heavy rain and strong gale-force wind warnings for Auckland and many parts of the North Island today.
Speed limits on the Auckland Harbour Bridge have been reduced this morning as a precaution.
"Emergency repairs" to a broken street light required closing a left northbound lane on the bridge soon after 9.30am.
Heavy rain is forecast for parts of the country over the next 24-36 hours.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 24, 2022
Some areas will receive 100-200+ mm of rain, which will lead to increased risk of flooding and slips. pic.twitter.com/qtk22BgtSk
High winds also caused issues in Auckland's CBD, with the Park Hyatt Hotel having to board up windows. Halsey St was closed by police to allow the safety work to be done.
Heavy rain is falling across Auckland, Northland and other North Island areas this morning as the tropical low-pressure system moves in.
Parts of the Waikato are also being affected by strong winds with a truck flipped and reports of power lines down in Matamata.
The wild weather will move south as the day progresses, with heavy rain warnings and watches in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Mt Taranaki, Tasman and Marlborough.
There are over 20 weather watches and warnings in place across the country and the worst of the weather is expected to hit the North Island from 10am to 2am tomorrow.
In the South Island, MetService have issued a number of road snowfall warnings including for Lewis Pass from 2pm to 9pm, Arthur's Pass 3pm to 2am tomorrow, Porter's Pass from 4pm to 1am, Lindis Pass from 8pm to 11pm tomorrow and the Crown Range Rd from 1am to 4pm tomorrow.
A strong wind warning is also in place for Auckland and Northland, with areas around Auckland - including Great Barrier Island - forecast to see "severe" northeasterly winds gusting up to 110km/h in exposed places.
That wind warning is in place until the early hours of tomorrow morning, about 2am.
"Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService said.
Those in Northland are advised that strong winds are expected to reach up to 120km/h in exposed places. The warning there is in place until 6pm tonight.
The Southern Motorway has delays after a car rolled, blocking two southbound lanes, at 7am.
SH1 SOUTHERN MWY - 7:00AM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 24, 2022
A crash is blocking the right lanes southbound between off-ramps to the South Eastern Hwy and Mt Wellington Hwy. Pass with extra care and expect delays this morning. ^TP pic.twitter.com/Uq56xOdrP2
SH1 AKL HBR BRIDGE - 6:45AM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 24, 2022
Due to strong wind gusts reduced speed limits are in place on the Harbour Bridge. Lane reductions and/or temporary full closures may occur if severe winds gust over 90km/h. Caution is advised, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles. ^TP pic.twitter.com/s4pj1RiojQ
A fallen tree on the State Highway 1 Grafton Rd onramp blocked the southbound lanes just after 6.30am for 15 minutes before being cleared.
MetService forecasts the worst of the weather is likely to peak this morning and afternoon, with downpours of up to 10-15mm per hour.
Just after 6am, Auckland Transport issued an alert that all Gulf Harbour ferry services will be replaced by bus and shuttle services today due to weather conditions.
Heavy Rain Warning (Orange) issued for Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Great Barrier Is, Nelson, Northland, Rotorua https://t.co/WwzdkSNlEg
— MetService Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) July 24, 2022
Ferry services from West Harbour to Auckland scheduled for 7.15am and the Auckland to West Harbour trip scheduled for 7.05am and 7.25am are also cancelled.
Passengers are therefore advised to plan ahead.
Here's an image showing the rainfall accumulations over Northland and Auckland over the past 24 hours. About 100mm in eastern parts of Northland. Less recorded around Auckland so far but more coming throughout the day. https://t.co/Yjbq0jgaoz for your forecast pic.twitter.com/qynTCghmxA
— MetService (@MetService) July 24, 2022
Areas from Whangārei to Kaitaia can expect roughly 100-140mm total rainfall during the period, while other Northland areas could receive up to 90mm.
The rest of the country is set for a wet few days, with rain and wind forecast for most areas.
The low and its associated fronts are expected to continue south until Thursday.
Do you live in the 🔴 red area? That means you have a high risk of seeing 50mm of rain or more on Mon, Tue or Wed!
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 24, 2022
Yet another low looks to drop down from the subtropics, bringing widespread rain.
Soils are already saturated in some of these areas so rivers could rise quickly! pic.twitter.com/Xg2KRX6vcq
Heavy rain watches are in place for Tasman and Marlborough on Monday afternoon and evening while heavy wind watches will be in place for parts of Coromandel, Waikato and Buller.
MetService predicts there is a 40 per cent likelihood rainfall could reach warning criteria in eastern Marlborough, Canterbury and North Otago by Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The rain will likely fall as snow above about 900 metres over the South Island, which may affect some alpine passes," MetService says. "The low should weaken over the South Island on Thursday, while a disturbed westerly flow covers the North Island."
Boaties can expect choppy seas with large combined waves in the next few days as the strong wind kicks in. It could make for hazardous conditions on the water, MetService warned this weekend.
It's a wet and windy start to the week across the top of the North Island.
— MetService (@MetService) July 24, 2022
Low pressure drives that rain southwards through the day.
Keep an eye on the latest forecasts and the Severe Weather Warnings at https://t.co/oKYtrol7HA pic.twitter.com/Oc2IYKbtDE
Thames-Coromandel District Council is warning that the storm is set to be the most intense so far this winter, with the sodden district in line for another 160mm of rain over the next two days.
Civil Defence controller Garry Towler urged residents not to take risks with unnecessary travel.
"Our catchments will struggle to cope resulting in surface flooding, slips, isolation and maybe power outages.
"This event is an ex-tropical front packed with a lot of rain, so get prepared once again at home and work, stock up on essentials and plan for delays, isolation and flooding in low lying areas."
Police say they are following lines of inquiry to catch the offender.