Flooding and power outages have been reported in Taupō this evening as heavy thunderstorms strike the central North Island.
MetService earlier issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the central North Island – including Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō, Taranaki and Taihape – this afternoon and evening.
Scattered heavy showers, thunderstorms and localised downpours of 25-40mm an hour were expected within this area.
Residents in Taupō reported flooding shortly before 6pm, followed by power outages. Video seen by the Herald shows a steady stream of vehicles slowly driving through a flooded road on Taupō‘s lakefront.
A resident described the storm on Facebook.
“Whose power is out? Big thunder boom and lightning just above the house and ours went straight out.”
Thunderstorm right now here in Taupo ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/jV1eNcZ1JC
— NZ Xster 🇳🇿🥝 (@NZVickster) February 7, 2025
Another resident said: “There was a flash and simultaneous bang a while ago. Sounded like something had been hit.”
Others have reported “flash flooding” in town, saying the lakefront was “likely underwater”.
Another image shared with the Herald shows powerlines down on a Taupō road after it is believed a power pole sank into the ground.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman confirmed the service was responding to “multiple reports” of flooding and weather-related incidents in the Taupō area. They were unable to provide any further information.
Meanwhile, electricity distributor Unison’s website at 6pm reported an unplanned power outage in Taupō affecting 2084 customers.
The outage, reported at 5.52pm, was “under investigation”, according to the website, and it was estimated power would be restored shortly before 9pm.
Affected streets included Whakaroa Rd, Charnley Way, Grant Rd, Mapara Rd, Katelyn Place, Olsen Place, King Rd and Ross Rise.
A Taupō District Council spokesman said flooding had been reported in the CBD and along Lake Terrace this evening, but it looked like the town was “through the worst of it now”.
“We’ve had some really heavy rain. We were hoping for rain, not quite in this form,” he said.
The council had been in contact with Civil Defence, along with roading and water teams after the heavy downpour.
“We’ve had messaging out on our digital channels just letting everyone know they should stay home if they can and if they do really need to go out, drive to the conditions.
“It’s coming up from the south and heading north so [residents of] Rotorua might want to stay home.”
In an update at 6.40pm, Taupō District Council said it had received reports that Ngāmotu Rd was closed between Henry Hill Rd and Gillies Ave because of a downed powerline.
“Please avoid the area if you can,” it said.
“We’re also aware the storm has taken out power in some places – please check in with your local power provider for updates.”
MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon earlier said some parts of the central North Island may not be affected, but the potential was there.
“Localised downpours can cause surface flooding, especially in low-lying areas.”