Heavy rain in Gisborne and Wairoa releases slips on to roads

The green areas on this rain map for midnight tonight show the lingering heavy falls expected for parts of Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay. Source: MetService

As a new heavy-rain warning is issued for some eastern parts of the North Island, the police say slips have fallen on to several roads.

Heavy rain has been falling in a number of eastern areas of the North and South islands over the weekend.

More than 100mm of rain fell in the 48 hours to 9am in parts of Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, and around 90mm on Banks Peninsula.

In the Waikato yesterday, a slip closed the eastbound lane of State Highway 2 at Karangahake Gorge for much of the day and motorists had to take a detour until the debris was removed.

The NZ Transport Agency said the closed lane was reopened at 6.45pm yesterday.

The police said today that they had received several reports of slips falling on to roads in the Wairoa and Gisborne areas and had notified roading authorities.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management said on its Facebook page there had been reports of flooding in the Gisborne region and it urged motorists not to try to drive through significant areas flooding.

"At this stage there are no issues with our main rivers. We are aware of localised surface flooding in a number of rural areas, including Ngatapa, Patutahi, Lavenham Road.

"I am aware of at least one case where a farmer has had to rescue someone in an SUV that got stuck."

MetService has this morning renewed its severe-weather warning of heavy rain for some eastern areas.

It warned that 30 to 50mm of rain is expected in parts of Gisborne between 9am and 5pm. Downpours could reach an intensity of 20mm an hour.

The warning for northern Hawke's Bay is for up to 40mm of rain from 9am to 2pm.

In the upper North Island, the picture is better: showers are expected to become isolated this morning, with increasing fine spells.

Showers are expected to continue today in Wellington and Christchurch, while Dunedin will be cloudy.

To kick off the new week tomorrow, Tauranga may be the spot for a dose of sun - with a high of 17C - as the country shakes off the weekend's heavy rain. MetService is predicting a fine day in the Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Coromandel Peninsula as a narrow ridge of high pressure moves on to the country to replace the departing lows.

Tuesday may bring increasing cloud and late showers in the North Island.

In the South Island tomorrow, cloud is expected to increase in the west, leading to showers, with a mainly fine day in the north and east.

On Tuesday, the South Island can expect thickening cloud in the east, with a few spots of rain in Otago and Southland. Rain is forecast for the West Coast, with some heavy falls and possible thunder.

MetService forecast:

Auckland
Monday
Fine spells and the odd shower, clearing evening. Southwesterlies, 15C
Tuesday
Fine spells, then showers later. Southwest turning fresh northwest, 17C

Hamilton
Monday
Long fine spells. Southwest breezes, 15C
Tuesday
Cloud increasing, showers and northwesterlies later, 16C

Tauranga
Monday
Fine with southwest breezes, 17C
Tuesday
Cloud increasing, late showers. Westerlies developing, 17C

Wellington
Monday
Morning showers, then long fine spells. Northerly in the evening, 12C
Tuesday
Cloud increasing with a few late showers. Northerlies strengthening, 14C

Christchurch
Monday
Morning frosts or low cloud, clearing to a fine day. Light winds, 11C
Tuesday
Fine with high cloud. Northerlies developing then strengthening, 17C

Dunedin
Monday
Morning cloud or frosts, then fine. High cloud thickening and northeast developing afternoon, 11C
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with a brief period of rain. Northerlies strengthening, 14C