Heavy rain battered the upper North Island today, as strong gusts lifted roofs in Waikato and uprooted trees in Northland.
Photo: 123rf
Fire services attended more than a dozen homes in Te Aroha to help secure roofs loosened by winds.
In the Northland region, fallen trees blocked roads and were cleared by crews throughout the day.
MetService said weather warnings were still in place overnight for Northland, with falls of 90 to 120 millimetres predicted over the weekend, easing on Sunday morning.
Between 120 and 150 millimetres of rain was expected for Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, while periods of heavy rain will also hit Auckland, mainly in the north of the city and around the Hunua Ranges.
Warnings were also in place for Mount Taranaki, northwest Nelson and Buller, with heavy rain expected to ease by midday Sunday.
A watch for strong easterly gales is in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromadel and Waikato, particularly near the Kaimai Range.
