Flood Room

Flood room is activated

Published at 6pm on Monday, 13 April 2026

Situation

Flood Room remains activated as some rivers will continue to rise over the next 24-36 hours while catchments drain following heavy rain due to Cyclone Vaianu and because more rain is expected to fall over the next week.

Flooding and landslides have occurred in a number of catchments and our Hauraki (Waihou-Piako) zone is in active flood response mode.

MetService is forecasting possible localised downpours and thunderstorms for parts of the region on Tuesday, with further rain forecast into early next week.

With more rain in the coming days, there is the possibility of more 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' indicating a moderate risk of thunderstorms for much of the North Island today, with heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h, along with a low risk of downpours boosting localised rainfall rates to 25 to 40 mm/h. 

The moderate risk of thunderstorms eases in western parts during the afternoon and evening, but a low risk remains. A low risk of thunderstorms covers remaining areas as indicated on the chart.

On Tuesday a front and preceding trough move onto the North Island. There is a broad low risk of thunderstorms for the upper half of the island as indicated on the chart, but this risk increases to moderate for western and northern areas from Northland to northern Taranaki, also Coromandel Peninsula. If these thunderstorms occur they will be accompanied by heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/h.

During the second half of Tuesday, much of the North Island is covered with a low risk of thunderstorms. However, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for Northland, Auckland, Waikato, northern Taupō and Coromandel Peninsula during the afternoon. These thunderstorms will be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h.

In the evening and at night, a front moves onto the west of the island, bringing a moderate risk of thunderstorms from western Northland to Taumarunui and Taranaki. These thunderstorms will be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 15 mm/h and hail 5 to 10 mm in diameter.

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

Eastern Coromandel

There was a significant wave event over the weekend. The wave event and coastal water levels were aligned with the forecast. The extent of coastal erosion and other impacts will be assessed later this week. 

Firth of Thames 

For Firth of Thames, there may be some wave splashing along low lying areas, approximately 2 hours before and after high tides Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. 

West Coast

For the west coast of the Waikato region, coastal impacts are unlikely to be significant. A minor wave event is expected from Monday onwards along the west coast.

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 Tuesday, 14 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