Wet and wild weather is already starting to cause traffic problems in Auckland this morning as the city faces a day of rain and gale-force winds.
The Oteha Valley Road on-ramp to the Northern Motorway, on the North Shore, is closed, and motorists can expect delays on the northbound Lincoln Road on-ramp of the Northwestern Motorway because of flooding.
Northlanders, Aucklanders and those along the coast in the Bay of Plenty are being warned to watch out for possible flooding as rain and high winds coincide with a king tide this morning and again this evening.
High tides today in Auckland are at 8.53am and 9.19pm.
Heavy rain warnings for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty ranges and for Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards have been issued by MetService.
Tāmaki Drive in Auckland had been predicted to be one of the areas most under threat of flooding today.
Maraetai and the Northern Motorway between Esmonde and Onewa Rds are also likely be affected.
NZTA warned debris is expected on many main roads in the South Island this coming week between periods of high seas.
MetService meterologist Andrew James said exposed northeastern areas would bear the brunt of it today and could expect big rainfall numbers.
"That rain and those gale easterlies are going to continue this morning and into the afternoon."
Later this afternoon, the rain would ease to isolated showers as the winds turned north-west, he said.
The band of rain was moving south, and would being affect the rest of the north island as it progressed.
"Most of it will be easing overnight tonight."
It could be a wet and miserable week.
Aucklanders can expect showers tomorrow with northerlies turning westerly in the afternoon.
The showers and westerlies are expected to continue in Auckland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
