People in the top half of the North Island are being told to prepare for more intense rain as Christmas day approaches.
Not a cloud in sight down South ☀, cloud everywhere in sight for the North. Periods of rain and heavy rain for much of the North Island. South Island temperatures heading for the mid and high 20's today. Check your forecast @ https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^JM pic.twitter.com/SzsYCc2SiD
— MetService (@MetService) December 23, 2018
MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, and a watch for Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
Meteorologist Andy Downs told Summer Report the forecast was far from the festive weather people would be hoping for.
"People in all those regions, which also of course quite popular tourist spots at this time of the year, people need to be prepared for some fairly intense rain."
He said motorists should also take caution as the intense rain created potential for surface flooding and flash flooding.
"The areas of concern are eastern parts of Northland, northern parts of Auckland but particularly Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and maybe even those northern parts of Gisborne, where we could see a further substantial amount of rain over the next 24 to 36 hours."
A wet day for the North Island, fine down South. The upper North Island has already seen some very heavy falls and more rain is on the way. Rain gauges across #Auckland recorded 30-50mm overnight. Severe Watches and Warnings have been issued-details @ https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^JM pic.twitter.com/GZLQV60tH1
— MetService (@MetService) December 23, 2018
Mount Maunganui's base track has also been shut until further notice due to slips and debris.
Tauranga City Council said at this stage all other tracks on the mountain were open.
Early this morning, about 150 campers at two Bay of Plenty holiday parks were evacuated because of flooding.
Emergency services were called to the Waihi Beach and Beach Haven Top 10 holiday parks just before 3am.
Police said campers were evacuated and taken to the Waihi RSA.
There were no reports of injuries.
#waihibeach #waihi photo of Beachaven motor camp this morning. pic.twitter.com/jScrNAtoHA
— Jeff Napier (@jeffmnapier) December 23, 2018
Ian Smith, who runs both camping sites, said the flooding has cut some Christmas holidays short.
"There's a lot of kids who were hoping to spend Christmas Day here tomorrow and Mum and Dad have said no. There's still rain on the weather radar so they're a bit concerned about that," Mr Smith said.
Campers were evacuated to the local RSA as a precautionary measure but have since returned.
"At daylight they returned and have started to clean up their tents. Some of them obviously didn't stand up to the rain so well. Some of them have made the decision to go home early, others are soldiering on," Mr Smith said.
MetService expected the severe weather to spread south across the North Island between tonight and tomorrow, bringing periods of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms to the northern districts.
Some very heavy rainfall through the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty overnight. Over 100mm recorded at multiple gauges in the Coromandel as heavy rain sat over the region overnight. A bit of clearance now but more rain on the way. A Warning is current; https://t.co/Sd5C6lrsSL ^JM pic.twitter.com/OYGZUV1zFY
— MetService (@MetService) December 23, 2018
The heaviest rain is expected in Northland and Coromandel Peninsula.
"We've already seen over 90mm of rainfall at Tauranga Airport this morning, it has eased and there's a bit of a respite there but as I say there's more rain on the way," Mr Downs said.
However, Mr Downs said there was possibly some relief for those at the top of the North Island tomorrow.
"This main rain band we're talking about is going through today - Christmas Eve - particularly overnight and early Christmas morning but later through [tomorrow] morning the main rain band will clear and the top of the North Island might actually start to see some sunshine but it will be mixed with showers and possibly even some thunderstorms."
Fine over most of the South Island today, but some cloud through Nelson and Marlborough. Xmas Day still looking beautiful for the lower half of the island too! More sunsets like this down in #Southland on the cards - thanks for sharing Tim! Forecasts @ https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^JM https://t.co/fLMp7KF8Hm
— MetService (@MetService) December 23, 2018
On the other hand, the lower part of the South Island looked like the best place to be for Christmas with Central Otago enjoying some sunny skies today.
The outlook for New Year's Eve at the moment predicted some strong westerly flows and possibly showers in the west but the eastern areas looked good, Mr Downs said.
