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
Published at 10.30pm on Monday, 9 November 2026
Situation
Flood Room is remaining in monitoring mode. MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch – Yellow for parts of the North Island, including the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō, Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park. The region received substantial rainfall over the weekend, particularly through central parts of the Waikato, leaving some catchments and soils already wet ahead of the next period of rain.
Slow-moving rainbands are expected to affect much of New Zealand from late Monday through to early Wednesday. Localised downpours and thunderstorms are possible, particularly in northern areas. MetService has advised that thunderstorms and downpours are more likely through to about 9pm Monday and should then taper, although a downpour risk remains on Tuesday. In humid conditions, the location and intensity of convective rainfall can change significantly between forecast runs.
All rivers monitored by Waikato Regional Council are currently well below warning levels. However, because some areas are already wet from the weekend rainfall, further heavy rain or localised downpours could produce a quicker response in affected catchments and increase the risk of slips. We will monitor rainfall intensity, radar, river levels and updated MetService forecasts closely as the event develops.
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.
Be prepared
- Download the MetService App to your phone to receive severe 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.
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.
Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Coromandel Peninsula
Period: 31 hours from 9pm Monday, 9 November to 4am Wednesday, 11 November.
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Thunderstorms and localised downpours are possible, with rainfall intensities of 25–40 mm/h. Rainfall amounts may exceed warning criteria in localised areas. There is a moderate chance of the Watch being upgraded to a Warning.
Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō, Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park
Period: 22 hours from 3am Tuesday, 10 November to 1am Wednesday, 11 November.
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Localised downpours are possible, with rainfall intensities of 25–40 mm/h. Rainfall amounts may exceed warning criteria in localised areas. There is a moderate chance of the Watch being upgraded to a Warning.
Issued at 8.37pm Monday, 9 November
Next update: 10am Tuesday, 10 November.
Thunderstorm outlook
There is a moderate of risk thunderstorms through to midnight Monday (9 November) for Waitomo, Taumarunui, western Taupō, western Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Northland. Thunderstorms will enhance rainfall rates up to 25mm per hour, and may produce small hail. Localised downpours will generate rainfall rates of 25 to 40mm per hour.
There is a low risk of both thunderstorms and localised downpours extending across many areas of the North Island for the 24 hours from midnight Monday. From noon to midnight Tuesday the risk is moderate for the Coromandel Peninsula. Thunderstorms will generate heavy rainfall up to 25 mm per hour, while localised downpours will bring rainfall rates of 25 to 40 mm per hour.
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
All monitored rivers are currently well below warning levels. However, substantial rainfall over the weekend, particularly through central parts of the region, means some catchments are already wet and may respond more quickly to further heavy rain or localised downpours.
With periods of heavy rain and localised downpours forecast, Waikato Regional Council will continue to monitor rainfall rates, radar, and river and lake levels closely as the weather system moves through the region. Particular attention will be given to locations receiving repeated or high-intensity rainfall over already wet catchments.
Avoid driving through floodwaters and plan alternative routes if you live in a flood‑prone area. Contact 111 if you are in immediate danger.
Wind
There are no Strong Wind Warnings or Watches issued for the Waikato region. However, 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
No significant coastal impacts are currently identified. Conditions will continue to be monitored as the weather event develops.
Land instability
Weekend rainfall has already increased soil moisture across parts of the region, particularly through central Waikato. Further heavy rain or localised downpours may increase landslip and land instability risk, including in hill country, ranges, steep terrain, road cuttings and other areas with a history of slips.
The risk may develop quickly where intense rainfall falls on already wet ground. People should be alert for new cracks, tilting trees or fences, unusual sounds, falling debris, blocked drains, or sudden changes in water flow, and avoid areas where slips are occurring.
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 continues to analyse the latest data and provide advice to civil defence, district and city councils, other partners, stakeholders and agencies. This data is received, analysed and updates are disseminated continuously, 24 hours a day.
Our local Flood Response teams monitor catchment impacts, operate flood and drainage schemes, and work with local stakeholders to respond to local issues.
Waikato Regional Council flood and drainage schemes
All flood and drainage infrastructure is working as it should. Local flood response staff will 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 tomorrow (Tuesday, 10 November) or earlier if conditions change or further 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.
