Flood Room

Flood room is monitoring

Published at 9.30pm on Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Situation

The low that has been affecting our region for the last few days has almost passed.  As a result, MetService’s Heavy Rain Watches (Yellow) have now expired for Coromandel, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui. A Watch for Taupō east of the Lake has been issued for the next few hours.

The Heavy Rain Warning for Bay of plenty West of Whakatane including Rotorua remains lapsed.

However, Cyclone Vaianu now bears down on our region and is expected to significantly impact our region on Saturday night and/or Sunday morning (11-12 April 2026)

The impact of this Cyclone must not be underestimated.

A Strong Wind Watch for the entire North Island has been issued, as Cyclone Vaianu 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.

The Strong Wind Watch may be upgraded to Orange, or possibly a Red Warning, as the cyclone approaches and its track becomes clearer.

Strong winds may damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be difficult especially for high sided vehicles.

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.

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.

Strong Wind Watch - The North Island

Period: 22 hours from 1:00am - 11:00pm Sunday, 12 April.

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 9 April for some areas, with a high chance of these Watches upgrading to Warnings.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures is 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.

Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Taupō (east of the Lake)

Period: 4 hours from 8:00pm to midnight, Wednesday, 8 April.
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach Warning criteria. Localised downpours possible. Minimal chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Thunderstorms

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

There is a Strong Wind Watch issued for the whole of the North Island for Sunday, 12 April for 22 hours from 1:00am until 11:00pm.

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

Coastal impacts

There are likely to be significant coastal impacts arising from this event. Erosion, inundation in low lying areas, and splashing is expected. Wave height may be significant.

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. 

What we're doing

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 schemes and our drainage schemes. 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 5:00pm on Friday, 10 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