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 1:00pm on Saturday, 18 April 2026
Situation
A prolonged period of unsettled weather is expected to affect the Waikato through the weekend, bringing periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and coastal impacts. Rivers and streams are expected to respond quickly, with the potential for surface flooding, coastal inundation and localised land instability, particularly during high tides and intense rainfall periods.
Flood Room has been moved to monitoring as rivers and streams will continue to be responsive to further rain, which is expected to fall across our region into early next week.
With more rain in the coming days, there is the possibility of surface 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 is one Warning issued for the Waikato region.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Period: 23hrs from 10am Saturday, 18 April - 9am Sunday, 19 April
Area: Taranaki north of about Eltham, also the King Country and Taupo about and west of the Lake
Forecast: Expect 80 to 120 mm of rain, likely more about Taranaki Maunga and the ranges of the central plateau. Peaks rates of 15 to 25 mm/h in possible thunderstorms, and a low risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h. Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Heavy Rain Watch – Yellow
Period: 12hrs from 9pm Sat, 18 Apr - 9am Sun, 19 Apr
Area: Taupo east of the lake but south of Wairakei, and Bay of Plenty south of Murupara
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Thunderstorms
MetService has issued a 'Thunderstorm Outlook' for today.
Into Saturday there is generally a moderate of thunderstorms for western areas of New Zealand, gradually extending northwards over the North Island through the afternoon and evening. Over the lower North Island, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is currently in force, as there is a moderate risk of downpours 25 to 40 mm/hr into the early afternoon. Thunderstorms could also bring gusts of 90 km/h.
From Whanganui to Waikato there is moderate risk of thunderstorms from later this morning, and farther north this evening and tonight. Thunderstorms in these areas will bring heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/hr, gusts of 90 km/h, and for central parts a slight risk of a small tornado. There is also a low risk of downpours 25 to 40 mm/hr.
During the first half of Sunday conditions remain unstable over much of the North Island and western parts of the South Island. Then a broad rainband moves over the North Island. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/h, and gusts up to 90 km/h. There is also a low risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40mm/h. The risk eases from the west during the morning.
During Sunday afternoon and evening, a trough is expected to move over western parts of the North Island, showers to many places. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms from Northland to Whanganui, with heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/h, and a low risk of localised downpours with up to 40 mm/h.
A larger low risk area extends farther east and south, as indicated on the chart.
No thunderstorms or significant convection expected elsewhere during this period.
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
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.
About Taranaki, Waitomo and coastal Waikato, 90 km/h gusts are also possible and there is a low risk of a tornado near the coast.
Please keep up to date with information from your local power provider, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local civil defence.
Coastal impacts
The concurrence of spring tides, strong winds and wave events will likely cause minor to moderate coastal impacts for parts of the region. Water levels are predicted to the highest on Sunday.
Eastern Coromandel
The extent of coastal erosion and other impacts from the significant wave event over the weekend is being assessed this week.
Looking ahead, for eastern Coromandel there may be some coastal inundation within localised low lying areas over high tides. The coastal inundation impacts will likely happen approximately 2 hours before and after high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The high tides for Whitianga are:
Saturday 18/04/2026
High tide – 07:23 am
High tide – 07:53 pm
Sunday 19/04/2026
High tide – 08:14 am
High tide – 08:44 pm
Monday 20/04/2026
High tide – 09:06 am
High tide – 09:35 pm
Firth of Thames
For the Firth Thames, including the Thames and Wharekawa Coasts, a slight storm surge combined with strong onshore winds is generating medium-sized wind waves. This may result in wave splashing and occasional overtopping of low-lying coastal areas around high tides from Saturday through to Tuesday night.
The most noticeable impacts are expected overnight Saturday and again on Tuesday afternoon. Extra caution is advised when driving along low-lying coastal roads during these times.
The high tides for Firth of Thames are:
Saturday 18/04/2026
High tide – 07:25 am
High tide – 07:54 pm
Sunday 19/04/2026
High tide – 08:15 am
High tide – 08:41 pm
Monday 20/04/2026
High tide – 09:06 am
High tide – 09:30 pm
West Coast
For the west coast, there may be some coastal inundation within localised low lying areas over high tides on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
A moderate wave event is expected on Sunday and Monday along the west coast. Coastal erosion is hard to predict, however there may be some coastal erosion on beaches which are already prone to erosion, including Port Waikato. The coastal erosion is likely to affect the upper beach slope and lower dune, approximately 2 hours before and after high tides.
The high tides for Raglan are:
Saturday 18/04/2026
High tide – 10:38 am
High tide – 11:06 pm
Sunday 19/04/2026
High tide – 11:24 am
High tide – 11:51 pm
Monday 20/04/2026
High tide – 12:11 pm
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 continues to analyse the latest data and provide advice, as needed, to civil defence, district and city councils and other partners, stakeholders and agencies. 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.
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 Sunday 19 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.
