Flood Room

Flood room is activated

Published at 9.30am on Thursday, 16 April 2026

Situation

MetService is forecasting a low risk of thunderstorms this morning from Waitomo to central Northland. Due to the short-lived nature of thunderstorms, MetService may issue warnings at short notice; please stay up to date with the latest updates.

Looking ahead, a large and complex low pressure system is forecast to affect most of the country on Sunday, bringing rain or showers to many parts of New Zealand, with thunderstorms also a possibility in northern and central areas of the country.

The concurrence of spring tides, strong winds and wave events will likely cause minor to moderate coastal impacts for parts of the region. Water levels are predicted to be the highest on Sunday. The coastal impacts are expected during high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

Flood Room remains activated as rivers and streams will continue to be high and responsive to further rain, which is expected to fall across our region into early next week.

With more rain in the coming days, there is the possibility of further flooding and increased land instability. Landslides can occur without any warning signs, even when the rain subsides. Please be vigilant to the signs and do not hesitate to act.

Be prepared

• Download the MetService App to your phone to receive weather alerts for your area. 
• Add links to your local council and civil defence emergency management websites and follow their social media profiles.
• Check drains and gutters around your property to ensure water can flow freely.
• Secure outdoor items that could blow away or block drainage channels.
• Review your household emergency plan, including how you will stay informed if conditions change. 

If an event does occur:

• Avoid driving through floodwaters and plan alternative routes if you live in a flood‑prone area.
• Contact local civil defence (or your council) if you observe any evidence of a landslip or flood impacts.
• Contact 111 if you are in immediate danger.

Please keep up to date with the current MetService weather forecasts and messages from local Civil Defence.

Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.

MetService forecast

Changes to the weather can occur quickly, so please keep up to date with the latest forecasts. For national severe weather information, MetService is New Zealand’s only authorised provider of Severe Weather Alerts. Download the MetService App to your phone to receive weather alerts and access rain radar information for your area.

There are no Warnings or Watches for the Waikato region. 

Thunderstorms

While there are no Thunderstorm Watches or Warnings, MetService has issued a 'Thunderstorm Outlook' for today.

An unstable southwest flow covers much of the country. Within this flow, several fronts are expected to pass over New Zealand during the day. About the North Island, there is a low risk of thunderstorms this morning from Waitomo to central Northland and across Bay of Plenty to inland Gisborne/Tairawhiti. 

There is 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

Rivers and streams are likely to rise, or continue rising, and flooding may occur in low-lying areas. Avoid driving through floodwaters and plan alternative routes if you live in a flood‑prone area.

Wind

Downbursts and strong localised winds can occur with thunderstorm activity. Trees may fall and powerlines may come down (treat all as live). Any unsecured items may be uplifted, so now is a good time to tie them down or bring them inside. High-sided vehicles may be affected by strong winds.

Please keep up to date with information from your local power provider, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local civil defence.

Coastal impacts

The concurrence of spring tides, strong winds and wave events will likely cause minor to moderate coastal impacts for parts of the region. Water levels are predicted to the highest on Sunday. 

Eastern Coromandel

The extent of coastal erosion and other impacts from the significant wave event over the weekend is being assessed this week.

Looking ahead, for eastern Coromandel there may be some coastal inundation within localised low lying areas over high tides. The coastal inundation impacts will likely happen approximately 2 hours before and after high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

The high tides for Whitianga are:

Saturday 18/04/2026

High tide – 07:23 am
High tide – 07:53 pm

Sunday 19/04/2026

High tide – 08:14 am
High tide – 08:44 pm

Monday 20/04/2026

High tide – 09:06 am
High tide – 09:35 pm

Firth of Thames 

For the Firth Thames, along the Thames Coast and Wharekawa Coast there is likely to be some wave overtopping and splashing along low lying areas, approximately 2 hours before and after high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Caution should be had driving along roads in these areas during these times. 

The high tides for Firth of Thames are:

Saturday 18/04/2026

High tide – 07:25 am
High tide – 07:54 pm

Sunday 19/04/2026

High tide – 08:15 am
High tide – 08:41 pm

Monday 20/04/2026

High tide – 09:06 am
High tide – 09:30 pm

West Coast

For the west coast, there may be some coastal inundation within localised low lying areas over high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

A moderate wave event is expected on Sunday and Monday along the west coast. Coastal erosion is hard to predict, however there may be some coastal erosion on beaches which are already prone to erosion, including Port Waikato. The coastal erosion is likely to affect the upper beach slope and lower dune, approximately 2 hours before and after high tides.

The high tides for Raglan are:

Saturday 18/04/2026

High tide – 10:38 am
High tide – 11:06 pm

Sunday 19/04/2026

High tide – 11:24 am
High tide – 11:51 pm 

Monday 20/04/2026

High tide – 12:11 pm 

Land instability

Areas that would normally experience land instability may be affected. 

Any localised downpours that develop about the hill country and ranges of the region will heighten the risk and people in these areas 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.

Contact local civil defence (or your council) if you observe any evidence of a landslip or flood impacts. Dial 111 if you are in immediate danger. Road users should plan ahead and keep up to date with the latest from their local council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. 

Warning signs:

• Small slips, rock falls, and sinking land, at the bottom of slopes.
• Sticking doors and window frames, which may mean the land is slowly moving under the house.
• Gaps where window frames are not fitting properly.
• Steps, decks, and verandas, moving or tilting away from the rest of the house.
• New cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces.
• Tilting trees, retaining walls, or fences.
• Water flowing out of a slope, like a new spring.

If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring, or is about to occur in your area, here’s what to do:

• Move quickly out of its path and stay away from it. Evacuate immediately if it is safe to do so. Your best protection is higher ground outside the path of the landslide.
• If you cannot leave safely, the side of your house furthest from the landslide is likely to be the safest location on your property.
• Take your pets with you and move livestock to safe paddocks if you can do so without endangering yourself.
• Alert your neighbours. They may not be aware of the potential hazard. It may save their lives. Help neighbours who need assistance to evacuate if you can do so without putting yourself in danger.

What we're doing

Our Regional Flood Response team of scientists and subject matter experts is analysing the latest data and providing advice to other agencies around the region. This includes a range of functions such as severe weather and natural hazard analysis, understanding and responding to the flood impacts in the region, and ensuring our flood defence systems are operating at full capacity. This data is received, analysed and disseminated 24 hours a day.

Our local Flood Response teams are monitoring catchment impacts, operating flood and drainage schemes, and working with local stakeholders to respond to local issues.

We continue to liaise closely with civil defence, district and city councils and other partners, stakeholders and agencies, providing them with severe weather impact analysis and support to local response operations.

Waikato Regional Council flood and drainage schemes

Our managed flood infrastructure has withstood the challenges of the recent weather. Our local operations staff will remain on standby to monitor flood and drainage schemes and will respond as necessary to any issues.

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 Friday, 17 April, or earlier if the situation changes.

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.

Go to New Zealand Flood Pics