Drivers are being urged to take caution after high winds caused a campervan to overturn in an area known as Windy Gap, on State Highway 5 in Hawke's Bay.
A campervan on its side is blocking southbound lane approximately 2 kilometres south of Te Haroto. Photo: Supplied.
A police spokesperson said the crash happened about two kilometres south of Te Haroto. No injuries were reported. Police and contractors were directing traffic.
Motorists, especially those with high-sided vehicles, including caravans and campervans, are advised to exercise extreme caution while driving in the area.
Meanwhile, strong wind and rain is lashing much of the country this afternoon, with MetService issuing a raft of severe weather warnings.
heavy rain has caused flooding in low-lying areas of Wellington, disrupting public transport, some flights and lifting manhole covers on streets.
The lines company company, Vector, is warning of potential outages and damage to power lines in the Auckland region due to strong winds this afternoon.
MetService meteorologist Hanna Moes said it's been a wild day throughout New Zealand.
"When that front crossed through Wellington some active thunderstorms accompanied it. We saw about 34 millimetres [of rain] within a two-hour period and we also had wind gusts of about 120km/h in the Wellington region.
"For Auckland so far we've seen about 20 millimetres across the region but rain is continuing there with a risk of thunderstorms."
This morning Wellington City Council warned residents to stay off the roads as stormy weather and heavy rain has caused flooding in many parts of the city.
Heads up Dargville area. A thunderstorm poised to impact west coast of central Northland.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 13, 2019
Heavy rain, strong winds, and of course lightning all possible, if not likely. When thunder roars, head indoors. pic.twitter.com/4pb1dtz7uW
Its spokesperson, Richard McLean, there was flooding in many low lying areas, including the CBD, Miramar and other eastern suburbs and also northern suburbs such as Johnsonville.
SH2 PETONE, SOUTHBOUND - FLOODING - 9:40AM
— NZTA Wellington (@NZTAWgtn) July 13, 2019
There is currently surface flooding in the left southbound lane prior to the Petone on-ramp. Please take extra care and watch your speed. ^EH pic.twitter.com/SVRcqW5xef
Niwa said heavy rain has also reached New Plymouth, and would head north in the next few hours.
Rain has already reached Wellington and New Plymouth, and will be arriving in places such as Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga in the coming hours.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 13, 2019
Don't forget your ☂️ and raincoat if you'll be out and about today. pic.twitter.com/gIAvu2SCAL
Residents of Dargaville and the Kaipara region have been warned to brace for a thunderstorm expected to hit western Northand this afternoon.
A zoomed-in view of that thundery band crossing Wellington earlier - 19mm in Kelburn since 8am and counting. Winds and rain are forecast to ease in Wellington, but the front continues to move across the North Island during today. Check the details at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^HM pic.twitter.com/wvW5biiyZm
— MetService (@MetService) July 13, 2019
Here's the front currently moving across Auckland - no thunderstorms imminent right now but there is a risk for the area and some localised very heavy falls currently within that rainband. Check the detailed forecast at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^HM pic.twitter.com/bDCOKZN04f
— MetService (@MetService) July 13, 2019
Have I mentioned I HATE flying? Struck by lightning en route to Dunedin. Oh how those brave souls laughed! Not me but
— lindaclark1 (@lindaclark1) July 13, 2019
