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MetService
The MetService rain radar at 7.50am shows a band of rain crossing Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula
Heavy rain and flooding is disrupting traffic in Auckland, while in a school in Whitianga has been forced to close.
Intermittent flooding blocked a lane on the Southern Motorway early on Friday, Waka Kotahi said.
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Heavy downpours, strong winds and potential flooding is hitting parts of the North Island.
Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga was closed on Friday “due to multiple staff not being able to access school today and the severe weather warning,” the school’s Facebook page said
People were trapped in a vehicle in floodwaters on Kauaeranga Valley Rd, near Thames, about 4am, Fire and Emergency NZ, said.
Firefighters found two people in a vehicle that was “slightly” trapped, and helped them and the vehicle out of the water, a spokesperson said.
About 7am Fenz was alerted to a trampoline on a house at Raumati Beach on the Kāpiti Coast. Firefighters pulled the trampoline down from the house and secured it.
At Shannon in Horowhenua, strong winds caused a truck and trailer to roll on the northbound lane of SH57 about 7.15am.
The northbound lane of the highway was blocked and Waka Kotahi advised motorists to drive with caution.
Strong southeasterlies could cause wind gusts of up to 90kph in parts of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Heavy rain is also forecast for Tairawhiti and northen Hawke’s Bay during Friday.
DAVID WHITE/STUFF
Heavy rain disrupted the morning commute for Aucklanders (file photo).
MetService is forecasting southeasterlies gusting to 90kph on the Kāpiti Coast on Friday, but it’s expected to stay dry.
Strong southeasterlies are expected across much of the country.
Other areas where gales to 90kph are possible are Waikato near the Kaimai Ranges, eastern Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland. Gusts to 100kph are forecast for Taranaki.
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