Flood Room

Flood room is activated

Updated at 10pm on Thursday, 26 March 2026

Situation

MetService has issued multiple severe weather watches and warnings across the Waikato region covering the end of the week and into this weekend. Heavy Rain Warnings – Orange – have been issued for the Coromandel Peninsula, Hunua Range and Bay of Plenty (which includes eastern catchments of the Waikato region). There is a moderate chance of being upgraded to an extreme Red Warning for Coromandel and high chance for Bay of Plenty. Strong Wind Warnings – Orange are in place for Coromandel and Waikato, with a Strong Wind Watch – Yellow for Taupō and Taumarunui areas.

This event has the potential to cause significant impacts across affected areas – particularly on Thursday evening into Friday – and catchments in the Coromandel, Hauraki, Waipā and Ōtorohanga areas remain vulnerable following significant weather events in January and February. Of concern is the likely increased susceptibility of landslips and ‘flash’ flooding. Please keep up to date with latest MetService forecasts.

Heightened landslide risk – be vigilant

MetService forecasts that significant rain may fall on areas still recovering from severe weather in January and February, like Thames-Coromandel, Waipā, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo Districts, and the Hunua Ranges. This new rain increases the risk of land instability in and around hill and high-country areas.

Landslides can occur without any warning signs, even when the rain subsides. If you or people you know are in these areas, please be vigilant to signs of landslides and do not hesitate to act.

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.

Be prepared

There are simple preparedness steps you can take now:

• 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.

Our Regional Flood Response team continues to monitor forecasts closely and flood and drainage infrastructure - even when Flood Room is Deactivated - and will provide updates if the risk of heavy rain and flooding increases for the Waikato region. We also continue to liaise closely with civil defence, local councils and other agencies.

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.

RAIN

Heavy Rain Warning - ORANGE

Coromandel Peninsula

Period: 22 hours from 8pm Thursday, 26 March - 6pm Friday, 27 March
Forecast: Expect to 60-100mm of rain on top of what has already fallen, but up to 150mm is possible about the Coromandel Range. Peaks rates of 15-25 mm/h, but 25-40 mm/h possible Friday morning and afternoon. High chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane (includes the eastern catchments of the Waikato region)

Period: 29 hours from 8pm Thursday, 26 March - 1am Saturday, 28 March
Forecast: Expect 100-160mm of rain. Peaks rates of 15-20mm/h, but 25-40mm/h possible Friday morning and afternoon. High chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Dangerous river conditions, flooding, and slips likely. Dangerous driving conditions and road closures are expected.
Action: Do not enter floodwaters and avoid unnecessary travel. Be ready for communication and power outages. Be prepared to self-evacuate if you see rising water.

Hunua Range

Period: 27 hours from 9am Thursday to 12pm Friday
Forecast: Expect 110 to 150mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of mm/h, increasing to 25 to 40mm/h from this afternoon. Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Heavy Rain Watch - YELLOW

Waikato and Taupō 

Period: 34 hours from 8am Thursday to 6pm Friday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Amounts may approach warning criteria, especially in localised areas. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

WIND

Strong Wind Warning – ORANGE

Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato

Period: 23 hours from 9am Thursday, 26 March - 8am Friday, 27 March
Forecast: Severe gale northeast winds gusting 120km/h in exposed places, especially in lee of the Kaimai-Mamaku Ranges this evening. Low chance of updgrading to a Red Warning.

Strong Wind Watch – YELLOW

Taupō and Taumarunui 

Period: 21 hours from 12 noon Thursday, 26 March - 9pm Friday, 27 March
Forecast: North to northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.

Thunderstorms

There are currently no thunderstorm watches or warnings but this system is expected to have a convective component (particularly on Friday) which may lead to thunderstorm activity. 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

Based on the current forecast information, potential exists for significant impacts across the region including widespread flooding in flood prone areas. The Coromandel Peninsula, Hauraki, Waipā and Ōtorohanga will be particularly at risk of localised flooding. Be alert for rising river levels and do not wait for flood warnings to take action. Contact 111 if you are in immediate danger. 

Wind

A strong wind warning is in place for Coromandel and Waikato. Areas west of the Kaimai Range are forecast to be impacted by gale east to northeast winds, likely to produce favourable conditions for what’s colloquially known as the ‘Kaimai Buster’. The Buster occurs when the aerodynamic effect of the Kaimai Range turns strong easterlies into gales a person would struggle to remain upright in and can be strong enough to topple high-sided vehicles, down powerlines, and lift rooves from buildings. Strong north to northeast winds forecast in southern parts of the region may also approach severe gale force in exposed places.

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

Coastal impacts

Due to the northeasterly winds, waves along the Coromandel east coast and Firth of Thames east coast could cause overtopping/splash in low-lying coastal areas of these coasts.

We do not expect any coastal impacts along the west coast of the region for this event.

High tide times (approximate) for the Coromandel and Firth of Thames coast of concern are below:

Coromandel East Coast

• 1pm Thursday 26 March
• 2am Friday 27 March
• 2pm Friday 27 March
  

Firth of Thames

• 1pm Thursday 26 March
• 2am Friday 27 March

Land instability

Many catchments across the region remain impacted following heavy rainfall in January and February. As a result, areas that would normally experience land instability may be affected by any rainfall about the hill country and ranges. 

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. 

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. Our advice is to avoid travel unless absolutely essential during and immediately following heavy rainfall. 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

The next Flood Room is update is scheduled to take place by 10pm tonight (Thursday, 26 March 2026) but urgent updates may occur before then.

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