Flood Room

Flood room is monitoring

Published at 1.00pm on Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Situation

MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch for Coromandel, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō for Wednesday this week. There is a moderate chance of these Watches being upgraded to a Warning.

There is a Heavy Rain Warning for our neighbouring region, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane.

A Strong Wind Watch for the entire North Island associated with Cyclone Vaianu has been issued as the cyclone is expected to affect New Zealand on Sunday, 12 April. Cyclone Vaianu is expected to bring damaging, potentially life-threatening winds, heavy rain and hazardous coastal conditions. A Strong Wind Watch is now in force for the entire North Island on Sunday, with some areas likely to be upgraded to Orange, or possibly Red, Warnings as the cyclone approaches and its track becomes clearer. Heavy Rain Watches or Warnings are also likely to be issued for this cyclone. The locations of the most severe impacts associated with Cyclone Vaianu, such as power outages, falling trees, flooding, slips, road closures and isolated communities are highly dependent on the cyclone's track. People are urged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts, adjust plans as needed and be prepared to act, following all advice of local authorities.

This forecast adverse weather may cause flooding to some catchments within our region and in particular exacerbate existing landslip risk. 

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.

Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Coromandel Peninsula

Period: 6 hours from 9am - 3pm Wednesday 8 April
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Localised downpours and thunderstorms possible Wednesday morning and afternoon. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taupō

Period: 12 hours from 9am - 6pm Wednesday, 8 April
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with localised downpours and thunderstorms possible Wednesday morning and afternoon. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria. Note, rainfall is expected to ease from the west during the afternoon and evening. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Heavy Rain Warning (Orange) - Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, including Rotorua

Period: 12 hours from 9am - 9pm Wednesday, 8 April
Forecast: Expect 60 to 80 mm of rain on top of what has fallen, especially inland. Peaks rates of 25 to 40 mm/h possible in localised downpours and possible thunderstorms. Note, there is uncertainty about the clearance of heavy rain and the validity of this warning could be extended. Moderate 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.

Thunderstorms

While there are no thunderstorm watches or warnings for the region, a front moving slowly south over the north of the North Island on Wednesday morning is forecast to bring rain with heavy falls, possible downpours and thunderstorms.

On Wednesday, a front over northern New Zealand moves slowly eastwards over the North Island. During the afternoon in Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty west of Rotorua, and western parts of Taupō, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms this afternoon, bringing rain intensities of 10 to 25 mm/h, and also a moderate risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.

For the Bay of Plenty from Rotorua eastwards, and eastern parts of Taupō the risk of thunderstorms and downpours is low, however the risk of localised downpour with rates of 25 to 40 mm/h increases to moderate in the evening.

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 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

MetService has issued a Strong Wind Watch – Yellow for the entire North Island for Sunday, as Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move across the North Island.

Area: The North Island

Period: 22 hours  from 1:00am Sunday to 11:00pm Sunday

Forecast: Cyclone Vaianu is likely to move across the North Island on Sunday, 12 April. If it does, it will bring damaging, potentially life-threatening winds. However, uncertainty remains in the cyclone's exact track, so the locations of the most severe winds are not yet certain. As confidence in the track increases, parts of this Watch will be upgraded to Orange or possibly Red Warnings. Vaianu will also bring heavy rain, with Heavy Rain Watches and/or Warnings likely to be issued on Thursday for some areas. High chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

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

Coastal impacts

Coastal impacts are still being assessed in relation to Cyclone Vianu's arrival. We will update these as soon as they are properly understood.

Land instability

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.

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 before 1pm tomorrow (Thursday, 9 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