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Weather Watch: Drivers advised to take care after rain, slips

Author
NZ Herald Staff, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Sun, 3 Jun 2018, 3:12PM
Police are warning people in the Coromandel to stay off the roads (Image / Getty Images)
Police are warning people in the Coromandel to stay off the roads (Image / Getty Images)

Weather Watch: Drivers advised to take care after rain, slips

Author
NZ Herald Staff, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Sun, 3 Jun 2018, 3:12PM

UPDATED 8.45pm

The NZ Transport Agency is advising people to avoid travelling tonight in Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas affected by heavy rain and to check before traveling tomorrow.

Several roads are closed in Coromandel and Western Bay of Plenty because of flooding.

High tide in the area is at 10.50 tonight so some roads could stay closed until at least when the tide drops.

State Highway 2 at Katikati is closed because of flooding.

The detour for essential travel is via State Highway 26, 27 and then State Highway 29.

State Highway 25 Hikuai to Tairua is closed, as is the stretch between between Wade Road and the 309, Whitianga, and also another stretch near to the 309 Road at Preece Point.

Police say there is flooding at Papmoa Beach, Te Puke, Mount Maunganui, Otumoetai and Katikati.

They say they have no reports of anyone being injured in weather-related events at this stage, but people in cars are being affected.

Police are asking motorists to follow the directions of emergency services and roading contractors because some local roads are closed.

They also want non-essential travel to be delayed and drivers who do use the roads to take extra care across the region.

 HOW TO STAY UP TO DATE: 

Earlier Today:

Flooding in and around Auckland has kept Fire and Emergency services busy today, with Coromandel also in the firing line.

Torrential rain this morning caused extensive surface flooding in the Dome Valley north of Auckland before the bad weather made its way down to the city.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Colin Underdown told Newstalk ZB they have had to rescue a few people today who have driven in to flood waters and become stranded.

Earlier today, a person was paddling down the street in a rowboat and others trapped in vehicles as heavy rain brought flooding across the Auckland region.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Auckland as floods hit areas such as Warkworth and Dome Valley.

In Wellsford, police were called to reports of a Holden ute that had driven into floodwaters just after 1pm with two people trapped inside.

"Members of the public rescued the man, his child and a dog from inside the vehicle," a police spokeswoman said.

In Pakuranga, streets turned into streams and a man was seen out on his rowboat on Studfall St.

Wild weather has been affecting other parts of the country as well.

Police are warning people in the Coromandel to stay off the roads, after heavy weather has lashed the coastal region.

The Coromandel has been struck by surface flooding, slips and torrential rain.

There are no weather-related injuries at this stage, Police say, but are continuing to monitor the situation.

They are working with emergency service partners in the area.

Motorists are advised to follow the directions of emergency services and roading contractors, as some roads have been closed.

Non-essential travel should be delayed, Police urge, and drivers should take extra care when out and about.

 

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