The Mayor Wayne Brown has declared a State of Emergency in Auckland following extremely heavy rain throughout the city and in anticipation of even heavier rainfall this afternoon and early evening.
There was 30-35mm recorded in an hour at the worst of the downpour. Much more significant amounts of rainfall are expected in the coming hours. Metservice has issued an orange heavy rain warning and severe thunderstorm watch.
Metservice issued this forecast at 3pm. “Periods of heavy rain, with squally thunderstorms possible. Around 60 to 90 mm is expected, but possibly more in localised areas. Intensities of 10 to 15 mm per hour, but thunderstorms and downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour, or more, are possible in localised areas. Heavy rain is likely to clear Auckland CBD around 9pm.”
Waka Kotahi NZTA is reporting that the South Eastern Highway is flooded and closed in both directions beneath the Southern Motorway overbridge.
NZTA recommends taking extra care and using an alternative route.
Motorways all over the network are reporting issues with heavy rain, flooding and blocked lanes.
There is localised flooding all around the Howick and Pakuranga area with rural areas also seeing flooding across roads. There was deep water on Whitford Park Road and also Brookby Road an hour ago.
Reader David Mallowes snapped these shots as flooding subsided around Mellons Bay beach at 1.30pm today, and along the MacDonald Walkway from the beach. “The damp house is the old dairy building at the beach, nearly damp is along the walkway,” says Mallowes.
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