Wild weather: SH25 'nearly underwater', toppled trees on SH45

  • 15/07/2018

The country's major highways are badly flooded and trees have fallen onto roads as severe wind and rain lashes the North Island.

There's bad news, though - the ferocious conditions are expected to continue until the early hours of Monday morning for some parts of the island.

It comes as police say State Highway 25 is "nearly underwater" south of the township Tairua in the Coromandel. MetService warned that the combination of king tides and strong easterly winds could lead to coastal flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The severe conditions in the Coromandel are also believed to be behind a toppled monument to Captain Cook on Cook's Beach, near Whitianga.

Strong winds have toppled trees on SH45 between New Plymouth and Opunake, and drivers have been asked to delay non-urgent travel or to stay alert and drive to the conditions.

MetService issued several severe weather warnings on Sunday, including a heavy rain warning for the entire Auckland region between 11am and 2pm.

The Coromandel can expect a further 60 to 90mm of rain, lasting until about 6pm, while Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty will also see heavy downpours continuing until late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Sunday morning saw a strong wind warning issued for Auckland which has since subsided. Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Waikato are still under a strong wind warning until about 6pm.

Newshub.