Flood room status
Flood Room is monitoring. For information on current river levels, flows and rainfall accumulations, please visit our Environmental Data Hub.
What the status levels mean
Flood Room is monitoring
Updated at 10.30am on Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Situation
While showers may persist throughout today, they are clearing and we entering a more settled period.
Any showers will increase land slip susceptibility due to the already saturated catchments. While all parts of the region that would normally experience land instability may be affected, the risk of landslides remains much greater on the Coromandel Peninsula, with tree uprooting and landslides having the potential to impact property, roading and infrastructure such as power.
Meanwhile, agencies are continuing to respond to the impacts of last week's sustained heavy rain and wind.
With roads compromised due to impacts from flooding, debris and slips, please keep up to date with the latest roading information from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and local civil defence (Thames-Coromandel District Council and Hauraki District Council).
The Regional Flood Response team continues to monitor forecasts and flood and drainage infrastructure, as well as liaise closely with civil defence, local councils and other agencies.
Please keep up to date with the current MetService weather forecasts and messages from local civil defence. The MetService weather app will notify you of severe weather alerts for your area.
Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.
MetService forecast
There are no severe weather Watches or Warnings for the Waikato region.
Thunderstorms
There are no Thunderstorm Watches or Warnings for the Waikato region. However, there is always a possibility severe thunderstorm Watches or Warnings may be issued by MetService at short notice so please be alert for and act on these without hesitation – do not wait for further analysis by Waikato Regional Council. For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the National Emergency Management Agency's Get Ready website.
Likely/potential Impacts
Rivers and lakes
Most streams and rivers are receding. Some may be slow to return to expected normal levels. Do not enter floodwater – on foot or in vehicles.
Wind
There are no Strong Wind Watches or Warnings for the Waikato region.
Please keep up to date with information from your local power provider, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local civil defence.
Coastal impacts
No specific coastal impacts are expected.
Land instability
All parts of the region that would normally experience land instability may be affected by rainfall about the hill country and ranges, but the risk remains much greater on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Soils around the Coromandel have received significant rainfall over the past week. Tree fall, uprooting and destabilisation of saturated soils remains possible and the risk of landslides is heightened.
There is the possibility that shallow landslides may occur around the Thames-Coromandel District, but particularly in the northern, central and eastern peninsula, and it is also possible deeper seated, larger landslides will activate as water continues to move through the ground or more rain falls.
Whilst it is not possible to predict exactly where or when landslides will occur, properties and infrastructure, including roads on or near steep slopes, cuttings or cliffs, are naturally most at risk. People in the area should remain vigilant for early warning signs of earth movement.
Road users should plan ahead and keep up to date with the latest from their local council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Our advice is to avoid travel unless absolutely essential. The risk does not disappear once the rain has stopped and land instability can continue for many days after the event.
What we're doing
Waikato Regional Council flood and drainage schemes
All flood and drainage infrastructure is working as it should. Local flood response staff continue to monitor forecasts and assets to ensure a timely response, should it be required.
Please note, drainage schemes will take time to return to the pre-event conditions following rainfall. Rest assured our local operations staff are monitoring.
Waikato Regional Council telemetry
Our telemetry network continues to provide real-time data on rainfall and river levels and is monitored 24/7 by our Regional Flood Response team. Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.
Next update
Flood Room will be updated by 1pm on Wednesday, or earlier if conditions change or weather alerts impacting our region are issued.
New Zealand Flood Pics
New Zealand Flood Pics is a photographic archive of flooding for Aotearoa New Zealand which is currently hosted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). It's free for anybody to upload or download flood photographs and your contributions are welcomed.
