Wet weather takes aim at East Coast, following Coromandel deluge

It has been a wet start to the week for many, with the East Coast the latest in the firing line. Photo / Michael Craig.

An East Coast highway closed by a slip overnight has reopened, the New Zealand Transport Agency has tweeted.

One lane of State Highway 35 between Te Araroa and Tolaga Bay opened at 8am, but motorists were warned to take extra care.

Heavy rain is causing disruption on the East Coast this morning, a day after spring downpours caused headaches in the Coromandel.

The MetService warned of heavy falls in Gisborne overnight and this morning, and 50 to 60mm is expected in the hills and ranges, particularly north of Tolaga Bay. Up to 160mm had been expected to fall in the region's hills and ranges over 24 hours.

There was also a watch for heavy rain in the ranges of Hawke's Bay overnight and today.

More rain and showers in the east of the North Island and a few other spots. Check the forecast at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^Lisa pic.twitter.com/97LZhZCi0W

— MetService (@MetService) September 26, 2016

The downpours are expected to ease this morning, but heavy rain may return on Thursday, the MetService said.

The Gisborne District Council late last night posted on its Facebook page that Ruatoria had received 170mm of rain since the previous day.

The latest weather hassles follow a deluge that caused problems throughout the North Island, but most significantly in the Coromandel.

Among those affected when more than 300mm of rain fell were about 30 carloads of holidaymakers, who spent the night in their cars after being stranded by rising floodwaters.

Whangarei
• Today: Few showers, chance heavy later. 19C.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy with a few showers. 17C.

Auckland
• Today: Few showers, chance heavy later. 18C.
• Tomorrow: Showers. 17C.

Hamilton
• Today: Odd shower. 19C.
• Tomorrow: Showers, possibly heavy. 19C.

Tauranga
• Today: Occasional rain. 18C.
• Tomorrow: Showers, some heavy. 17C.

Gisborne
• Today: Rain. 14C.
• Tomorrow: Periods of rain. 17C.

Wellington
• Today: High cloud, 15C.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy, few showers. 16C.

Christchurch
• Today: Drizzle clearing, 15C.
• Tomorrow: Often cloudy, 14C.

Dunedin
• Today: Drizzle clearing, 14C.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy with a few showers. 14C.