Heavy rain causes chaos in Northland
Motorist Thomas Wharton said he could see bits of the road "coming off at the sides".
Half a metre of flood waters forced the closure of State Highway 1 after rain pummeled the north.
Northland police closed State Highway 1 at Puhipuhi Rd saying so much water was flooding across it, they had concerns vehicles could end up in the large drains on the side of the road.
Morewa resident Thomas Wharton made it along the State Highway before it was closed and said there was "water everywhere".
Stormy weather in Northland has resulted in flooding and slips.
"It was absolutely crazy, everyone was just trying to pile through it, the guy behind me was in a Toyota Corolla and his car was submerged past the wheels as we were driving."
MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said the flooding was due to heavy rainfall overnight and earlier on Thursday morning.
SH1 WHAKAPARA - FLOODING - FURTHER UPDATE 11:15AM #SH1 in the Whakapara area (btwn Whangarei & Kawakawa) is closed, however larger SUV's, 4WD's & heavy vehicles are being permitted to proceed at Police discretion. Detour info: https://t.co/fTppeoNrOh ^TP pic.twitter.com/jiJpBFQ5ME
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) June 20, 2018
Since Wednesday morning, parts of Northland had received 150 millimetres of rain, he said.
Have you been affected by flooding in Northland? Email us at newstips@stuff.co.nz
Whangarei Airport received 140.4mm of rain, while Glenbervie, a town southwest of Whangarei, received 175.5mm.
MetService's national forecast video for June 21.
MetService has issued a heavy weather watch for the area.
Several schools across Northland had closed due to flooding and road closures.
Sarah Smits, who works at Hukerenui Playcentre said she wasn't able to make it into work due to the extent of the flooding.
The wild weather lead to State highway 1 almost becoming submerged.
"It's just been torrential, it's a pretty bad flood we had to close the playcentre because most of us just couldn't get there."
Two early childhood centres, Kaeo Creative Minds ECE and Hukerenui Playcentre have closed for the day , while Kokopu School, Otaika Valley School, Whananaki School, Hukerenui School and Whangaruru School are the schools which have closed their doors.
Flooding was also reported in Kaipara Flats, near Warkworth, with the Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade stating on Facebook that Kaipara Flats Rd was badly flooded in some parts.
Almost half a metre of water has come across Puhipuhi Rd, Whakapara.
The rain was now on an "easing trend", Glassey said.
"The heavy rain should clear from Northland and Auckland by this afternoon and it should be mostly clear tomorrow."
- Stuff
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