Red rain warning issued for east coast of Far North

MetService has today upgraded its severe weather outlook to a Red Heavy Rain Warning for parts of Northland – a level only issued for the most severe weather events.

The red warning applies to areas east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei. The heavy rainfall is expected to peak from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning, with the greatest risk overnight on Thursday. These areas are expected to receive thunderstorms and 270 to 320mm of rain.

The rest of Northland remains on an Orange Heavy Rain warning with rainfalls of 150 to 250mm expected.

An Orange Strong Wind Warning is also in place for Northland until 11pm, Thursday 26 March. A severe gale east to northeast wind is predicted to gust to 120km/h in exposed places.

Council teams are preparing for the effects of the severe weather. Our roading and infrastructure contractors are clearing drains and culverts in areas where flooding is a problem.

If it is safe to do so, residents are advised to clear drains and gutters, secure loose outdoor items, move valuables and vehicles away from flood‑prone areas, relocate stock from low‑lying land, and bring pets indoors.

Possible hazards from heavy rainfall include dangerous river conditions, flooding, slips, landslides, hazardous driving conditions, and road closures.

Far North residents should avoid areas of known landslides and stay away from steep slopes and water courses, especially as previous storm events may have made some sites more vulnerable to slipping.

Council teams will be on call 24/7 and will respond to hazards as soon as it is safe to do so. Updates on local road closures, slips and other impacts of the storm will be posted here and on our Facebook page as they are confirmed. Residents are encouraged to report issues to our contact centre on 0800 920 029. This operates around the clock. If you can’t get through, please leave a message with your name and contact number. We will call you back. If life or property is at immediate risk, call 111.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is currently on standby and will be stood up immediately when required.

MetService is indicating the severe weather warnings are expected to be expire on Friday.

Please stay up to date with the latest forecasts and information from MetService and Civil Defence Northland. Go to Top Energy for information on power outages.

For more information on how to prepare go to Civil Defence in the Far North.