Intense thunderstorms and heavy downpours overnight caused localised flooding across some parts of Auckland.
It follows days of heavy rain and strong winds across the North Island due to ex-Cyclone Tam.
MetService meteorologist Alec Holden told 1News that this morning’s thunderstorms and downpours caused localised flooding across the region, particularly from Albany to Mount Roskill which experienced the most rain.
“Those were the areas that saw the worst of that thunderstorms, and they saw between 55mm to 110mm [of rain] overnight and the surrounding suburbs caught between 30mm to 50mm.”
He said the forecaster issued a thunderstorm warning overnight when this band of thunderstorms was detected, which was lifted earlier this morning.
“Now in terms of what Auckland’s weather is going to be looking like over the rest of today, the good news is that Auckland is on more of an easing trend.”
“They’ll definitely be still showers, and there is the unfortunate possibility of another thunderstorm developing over like over the western part of the city, however we’re not expecting anywhere close to what occurred overnight.”
Auckland Emergency Management said there was high concentration of call outs in the Sandringham and Mt Roskill areas, prompting the opening of an evacuation centre.
AEM said a Civil Defence Centre was opened at 4.30am in Three Kings at the Fickling Convention Centre, at 546 Mt Albert Rd for affected residents in the area.
“The centre will offer basic shelter and support for those displaced by this weather event.”
“If you need to leave your home due to flooding, and are unable to shelter with friends or family, please carefully make your way to this centre,” Auckland Council Emergency Management said.
According to Vector’s website, there were a number of unplanned outages impacting the wider Auckland network this morning.
Cars and homes were surrounded by floodwaters as the streets filled with water. (Source: 1News)
FENZ respond to 223 weather-related events overnight
Northern Fire and Emergency communications shift manager Michael Anderson told 1News crews responded to a total of 223 weather related events in the Auckland area overnight.
He said the busiest period was between 11.30pm and 3am.
“These callouts were for flooding, fire alarms and two water rescues,” he said.
Anderson said the first rescue was a person trapped in a car underwater shortly before 1am, in the Wesley area. The person was successfully rescued.
The second rescue was a person trapped in floodwater around 3.20am in Onehunga. They were also successfully rescued.
“We are not currently responding to any weather related calls but we have crews ready to assist,” he said.
‘We are very scared’
An Avondale resident told 1News she woke to the sound of thunder early this morning and went outside to see her car half submerged in flood waters.
“I was scared, when I saw the car and saw gas cylinders floating in the water, we called 111.”
She said FENZ advised the family not to stay at the property.
“We are very scared, its me and my daughter living here and we were really, really scared,” she said.
Road closure
New Zealand Transport Agency said the northbound Neilson St off-ramp was closed due to surface flooding shortly after 6am.
“Use an alternative route,” it said.