Auckland weather and traffic: State of Emergency declared, parts of SH1 closed

Auckland’s Wairau Valley is underwater amid extreme rainfall, and traffic is becoming congested across the entire city as Auckland enters a State of Emergency.

There is gushing water above roads and inner city traffic has become gridlocked.

Is your home or road flooding? Send us your pictures, video at aucklandnewsroom@stuff.co.nz

By 2pm,Fire and Emergency had responded to over 200 calls for help since 9am, across Auckland Northland, mostly to do with flooding in buildings, and some reports of people trapped in their cars, in floodwaters.

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Police have also been responding to weather-related issues across the city. On the North Shore, this has included severe flooding on Fred Thomas Drive in Takapuna, and a person was trapped in their car, in floodwater on Poland Rd in the Wairau Valley. They were rescued.

Auckland Transport has asked people heading to the North Shore to shelter in the city, as huge queues build up in town for the NX1, NX5, 95 and 97 services.

All trains are suspended, expect for the two services: between Otahuhu and Papakura on the Southern Line, and between Otahuhu to Manukau on the Eastern Line.

Waka Kotahi reports surface flooding in “many sections” of Tāmaki Makaurau’s highway system, along with several crashes. The Brynderwyn Hills and Dome Valley sections of State Highway 1 have been closed. Flooding is blocking all southbound lanes on SH1 between Penrose Rd overbridge and South Eastern highway off-ramp.

Both Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport are urging everyone to avoid travelling if possible, or to get home early.

Many are also collecting children from school early, adding to the congestion.

Waters are subsiding across some motorways – the southbound lanes on SH1 reopened at 1.35pm between Northcote Rd and Esmonde Rd, but northbound lanes remain closed.

A Stuff reporter in the CBD reports traffic is gridlocked, and it’s becoming impossible to order ride share services such as Uber.

MetService issued a severe thunderstorm watch and flooding event for Auckland, and Auckland Emergency Management sent out an emergency alert at 12.07pm.

A State of Emergency was declared at 1pm by the council and the Government has announced it will step up support too.

With mayor Wayne Brown out of New Zealand, deputy mayor Desley Simpson is acting mayor.

Auckland Emergency Management opened a Civil Defence Centre at Te Manawa Library, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Massey for those who need shelter or help.

At a press conference at 2pm, Auckland Emergency Management Deputy Controller Rachel Kelleher said the severe weather is expected through to 7pm.

Almost everywhere saw peak rain rates of 35mm an hour, she said.

West Auckland might clear as early as 5pm, and by 7pm hopefully last of rainband will move through, she said.

In the Wairau Valley in the North Shore, water is overflowing, and the Tristram Ave entrance to Wairau Park has been closed to traffic.

Buses, ferries cancelled or delayed

• There is flooding near the Glendale Rd and Glengarry intersection and buses cannot pass. Route 154 has been detoured, and the following stops were missed: 5054, 5052, 5050, 5031, 5029, 5294, 5022, 5024, 5057, 5059, 5475
• There is flooding on Alderman Dr between Sel Peacock and Ratanui St. Routes 134, 14W, 14T, 146, 138, 133, 131 services heading towards Henderson have been detoured.
• The 24B bus will be detoured, and the following stops missed: 8321, 8322, 8323, 8324, 8325 & 8326
• Bus route 309, 68 detoured and the following stops missed: 8971, 8962, 8973, 1618, 1727.
• All remaining Pine Harbour ferries have been cancelled for the rest of the day. Replacement buses will run from Queens Wharf at 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00.

Trains cancelled or reduced

• All services from Britomart are suspended.
• Train services are only running on the Southern and Eastern Lines between Papakura and Otahuhu and Manukau and Otahuhu.
• Onehunga and Western train line services are suspended.

Surface flooding on motorways

• A breakdown is blocking the left northbound lane on the Harbour Bridge
• The South Eastern Highway is flooded and closed in both directions beneath the Southern Motorway overbridge
• The right lane southbound through the Greenlane interchange is closed
• SH1 between Warkworth and Wellsford (Byrnderwyn Hills) is closed.
• SH1 between Warkworth and Wellsford (Dome Valley) is closed
• A crash is blocking the middle lane northbound between SH20A Link and Coronation Rd on-ramp

“We have also reminded our bus drivers this morning of the importance of following diversions put in place and to not drive through floodwaters themselves,” Auckland Transport’s general manager of safety, Stacey van der Putten said.

Meanwhile, a video footage emerged of an Auckland bus driver driving through floodwaters in West Auckland’s Massey area.

The video, shared by Massey resident Annabelle Temperton, shows the bus making its way down bottom of Bellringer Rd in Massey.

Auckland Transport’s travel alerts Twitter feed has the latest on which routes have been changed or cancelled.

Auckland Transport said slip sites across the city have been made “as safe and secure as possible and will continue to be monitored through this weather event”.

“Hotspots have been inspected to ensure that drainage systems are open and operating to their capacity; We are in close contact with the Auckland Emergency Management team.”

Meanwhile, at Auckland Airport, a spokesperson has said there are sandbags, sucker trucks and pumps on standby, ready to be used in the event of excess water.

”Auckland Airport operations continue to run as normal. Travellers are encouraged to check their airline app or website for any information about flight disruptions.”