Cyclone Gabrielle: Rain intensifying in Northland

Rain appears to be intensifying in Northland, which is so far being battered the worst by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Destructive winds have already brought down trees and power lines, and about 18-and-a-half thousand homes in the region have lost power.

The cuts are also affecting some mobile phone towers, on both the Spark and Vodafone networks.

Flooding is reported across the region, including on coastal roads where waves have crashed onto them.

In Whangarei, there are concerns flooding will worsen as the tide rises. High tide there is early this afternoon.

Reporter Soumya Bhamidipati spoke to Corin Dann.