Subj : Heavy rain causes flooding in Auckland, moves to East Coast
To   : All
From : News
Date : Tue May 21 2024 12:41 pm

Heavy rain was set to continue its course down the North Island today, after
downpours left parts of Auckland flooded last night.


A number of severe weather watches ended overnight - but not before their
effects were felt.


"Torrential rain has been recorded within the Severe Thunderstorm Watch area:
80.6mm was recorded at the @AklCouncil station in Leigh (north of Warkworth)
between 9 and 10pm, and last hour 63.0mm was recorded in Whangaparaoa,"
MetService said on X.


Fire and Emergency NZ said there were 67 weather-related events between 11pm
and 2am. Police also recorded calls for 36 weather-related events in Auckland
between 6pm Monday and 6am Tuesday.

Photographs from overnight revealed some substantial flooding in Auckland's
St Heliers.


Witness Matthew Davison told 1News houses were inundated by water in the area
around Allum St and Tarawera Terrace.


He described the flooding as "pretty bad". Fire and Emergency NZ were called
out to at least one house.

Were you affected by the heavy rain? Send your photos to news@tvnz.co.nz


Yesterday, MetService meteorologist Dom Barry described the front as a
"Tasman Sea Special", whipped up to the west of New Zealand and bearing down
on the upper North Island.


Today, the North Island's east coast would be next in the firing line.


"A subtropical low and associated front is forecast to bring a period of rain
to northern and eastern parts of the North Island.


"Thunderstorms continue to move into the Bay of Plenty this morning and heavy
rain is set to wrap onto the east coast of the North Island," MetService
explained.


"Milford Sound and Hokitika look to be the places to be if you are looking
for some sunnier skies."


The agency issued a number of severe weather warnings and watches.

A severe thunderstorm watch was in place for the Bay of Plenty including
Rotorua from 2am to 10am today.


"An active front is expected to move eastwards across Bay of Plenty/Rotorua
this morning bringing heavy rain," MetService said.


"There is a moderate risk of SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS with localised torrential
downpours in excess of 40 mm/h possible, especially about coastal areas,
along with a chance of a small coastal tornado."


An orange heavy rain warning was in place for Hawke's Bay, with 150 to 200 mm
of rain expected between 6am today and 6pm tomorrow: "Heavy rain may cause
streams and rivers to rise rapidly.


"Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be
hazardous."

Meanwhile, a number of places were told to be alert for downpours.

Heavy rain watches were in place for Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau from 11pm
last night to 11am today, for Tairawhiti from 3am to 3pm today, and for the
Tararua District and Wairarapa from 9am today to 9am tomorrow.


Heavy rain watches for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, and the
Coromandel Peninsula were set to end last night.

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