Wild weather lashes North Island

Stormy weather lashing the North Island has flooded roads, caused slips and lifted roofs from houses.

A large tree collapsed onto the middle of State Highway 27 near Matamata as stormy weather lashed the North Island this morning.

Crews were called about the incident on State Highway 27 near Matamata at 5.20am.

It did not cause any accidents and it is understood the tree is now being removed.

"[It was] a very big tree, they said," Mr Smith said.

"The council normally takes the trees away because a lot of our guys don't carry chainsaws. The first person that sees it normally calls the Fire Service...and then we say can you advise council."

Meteorologists have warned a series of lows crossing the country today will bring heavy rain and gale-force winds to many areas.

A warning was in place for Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato and the western Bay of Plenty this morning.

The stormy start to spring should ease off today, meteorologists said.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is reporting "serious flooding" on State Highway 1 between Brynderwyn and Otaika, north of Wellsford.

Motorists should drive to the conditions and take care, NZTA said.

Workmen are trying to clear a slip which hit a car near Waiatarua this morning.

Fire Service spokesman Steve Smith said firefighters were called to the Piha Rd scene about 6.10am.

No one was injured in the incident which involved "a large rock", Mr Smith said.

Emergency services and Fulton Hogan crews are at the scene.

Senior Constable Martin Geddes of Waipu police said there had been reports of surface flooding on the roads between Waipu and Whangarei.

"It's something for motorists to be aware of."

The flooding was in the usual places - low lying areas of roads in the area, Mr Geddes said.

New Zealand Transport Agency Auckland and Northland spokeswoman Sarah Azam said there had been no road closures due to the bad weather so far.

The agency was monitoring the situation closely, she said.

"There are no road closures on the state highway network but obviously the weather is marginal and where possible we've got signs up for motorists to take extra care," she said.

"We're closely monitoring the situation, we're working with contractors to resolve issues as soon as we can."

Flooding in the north near Brynderwyn and Otaika meant drivers should take extra care, she said.

The NZTA said Auckland traffic was moving slowly, possibly because of the stormy weather.

It is taking about 40 minutes to drive into the city from Greville Rd, 45 minutes from Hobsonville and more than 90 minutes from Papakura, NZTA tweeted.

Tauranga has taken a battering overnight with gale force winds tearing through the region and a severe weather warning of intense rain expected to fall this morning.

A warning was issued by the Metservice yesterday for last night and this morning in the Kaimai Range and the Bay of Plenty west of Matata.

Between 80mm and 110mm of rain was expected to fall this morning in the Bay. Peak intensities of 15mm to 25mm an hour were expected to fall this morning.

Tauranga firefighters were this morning called to an incident involving a roof lifting off a building on Dive Cres.

Senior Station Officer Neil Brown said firefighters helped put the repair the roof but said it was possible more reports of weather related incidents could be yet to come as people woke up and got to work.

Emergency services have also been called to reports of a roof lifting from a home in Papamoa.

The Thames Coromandel District Council has reported heavy rain overnight has caused surface flooding and slips across the Coromandel Peninsula.

More surface flooding is expected with the high tide shortly after 9am, and rain will continue until mid-afternoon today, according to the TCDC website.

Firefighters are on standby for weather-related call-outs in the South Island but there has not been anything reported so far, Fire Service spokesman Brent Dunn said.

An extra 10 firefighters and three fire engines were sent to the West Coast last night, in case the storm got extreme.

"We were anticipating last night the front to hit the West Coast, Buller, area and we actually sent extra crews to the area in a support role, should the weather have come.

"There was a potential there for it to be as bad as last year but it's OK so far."

Snow is on the forecast for parts of the South Island, with road warnings in place.

Affected roads include Lewis Pass, Arthurs Pass, Porters Pass, Lindis Pass and Milford Rd - and the NZTA is urging drivers to take care.

The snow should clear or turn to rain by tonight, MetService said.

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