Several roads were closed in Lower Hutt overnight due to flooding from the Hutt River. File picture. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The upper North Island was hit with heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight, but a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland has been lifted.
A front moved east across the region, bringing downpours and thunder also in Northland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
MetService meteorologist John Law said the weather warnings had mostly been lifted.
"But we did see that wet weather moving across the northern parts of the country, particularly feeding through to those eastern parts of Bay of Plenty, 80 to 130mm to some of the hills through there and some pretty intense bursts of rainfall last night through the likes of the Auckland region as well."
On Monday morning there was some wet weather in Canterbury which would move towards Wellington and Marlborough, but most places would see the weather improving through the day, he said.
In the lower North Island, Lower Hutt roads closed due to a flooded river had reopened by Monday morning.
The Hutt River had risen to the highest level in a year on Sunday after heavy rain lashed the region.
The Riverbank car park, Harcourt Werry Drive, Block Road, and Port Road were open and the Hutt River levels were not causing alarm, a Hutt City Council spokesperson said.
Law said rain on higher ground causes the rainfall to feed through towards the rivers which can cause issues.
"Generally a very wet day for us in Wellington and the Hutt yesterday and I think we've still got more wet weather to come today."
But things were looking a lot dryer for the next few days, he said.
Southland, Otago and the West Coast expecting some of the best sunshine today. However, it'll be a cold day in the south.
— MetService (@MetService) May 18, 2025
Here's your Monday morning forecast. pic.twitter.com/rAaRnqISfh
Meanwhile, a teenager was rescued after trying to cross the Ngatiawa River in Tararua Forest Park when returning from an overnight hike.
The boy was swept off his feet after rising floodwaters but managed to get to safety where he activated a locator beacon and was then able to be located and rescued.
In the South Island, road snowfall warnings were in place overnight until 7am on Monday for Arthur's Pass and Porters Pass.
Law said snow levels dropped to about 700m in places like Arthur's and Lewis Pass.
"That again is still moving northwards but it should ease off and I think we will find it's a generally improving day."
It would be a cold day for Christchurch which had a temperature high of only 10C on Monday and they could expect another cold, frosty night tonight, he said.
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