14 Dec 2014

Storm warning for Northland lifted

1:50 pm on 14 December 2014

Northland appears to have escaped any serious damage following warnings of heavy rain and strong winds overnight.

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Rain in Northland earlier in 2014 - one of several major storms for the region over the last year. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams

The severe weather watch for the region has been lifted but severe gales and more rain was expected in parts of Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne as the storm moved south.

Up to 140 millimetres of rain was expected in Northland but less than half that was recorded.

State Highway 1 between Warkworth and Wellsford was temporarily blocked by surface flooding, which also affected parts of Mangawhai Village.

Northland Civil Defence controller Graeme MacDonald said they had checked the area and had no real concerns.

MetService said the rain in the north had now eased but there was still a chance of localised heavy falls or thunderstorms this afternoon.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) reported surface flooding and fallen tree branches on roads around Auckland and Northland and was urging drivers to take extra care.

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