Listen to RNZ’s reporting live on the air:<\/p>\n
Wellington’s regional emergency management office says more severe weather is expected in the area this afternoon.<\/p>\n
A thunderstorm warning is in place until 1pm and is very likely to be extended.<\/p>\n
State Highway 58 P\u0101uatahanui to Haywards and State Highway 59 Paremata to Plimmerton are closed, as is the nortbound sections of State Highway 2 Belmont to Haywards interchange. Eastern Hutt Road and Paekakariki Hill Road are also shut.<\/p>\n
Authorities are asking people to stay off roads unless absolutely neccessary.<\/p>\n
They say residents should not wait for official warnings, and to move to higher ground if they see rising water.<\/p>\n
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker told RNZ it has been far worse than Cyclone Vaianu that hit the North Island last weekend.<\/p>\n
Follow reports live below:<\/p>\n
Warnings issued<\/p>\n
These severe thunderstorms were moving towards the southeast, and were expected to lie near Wellington, offshore Mana Island, Porirua, Paek\u0101k\u0101riki and Pukerua bay at 9.00 am and near Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Wainuiomata at 9.30am.<\/p>\n
Additional heavy rain watches and a strong wind watch are also in place as a complex trough moves over the North Island, bringing further periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds.<\/p>\n
A heavy rain watch covers the Tararua Range, the K\u0101piti Coast and parts of Wellington north of the harbour from 6am Saturday until 2am Sunday, with periods of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.<\/p>\n
Further north, a heavy rain watch is in place for northern and eastern parts of Northland north of Whang\u0101rei from 9pm Saturday to 5am Sunday, where localised downpours may approach warning levels.<\/p>\n
In the South Island, the Richmond and Bryant Ranges and parts of Tasman District northwest of Motueka are under heavy rain watches from 6am to 3pm Saturday.<\/p>\n
A strong wind watch has also been issued for Wellington from 6am to 11am Saturday, with northerly winds that may approach severe gale strength in exposed places.<\/p>\n
The National Emergency Management Agency advises that as storms approach you should:<\/p>\n
Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;
\nAvoid sheltering under trees, if outside;
\nGet back to land, if outdoors on the water;
\nMove cars under cover or away from trees;
\nSecure any loose objects around your property;
\nCheck that drains and gutters are clear;
\nBe ready to slow down or stop, if driving.
\nDuring and after the storm, you should also:
\nBeware of fallen trees and power lines;
\nAvoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.<\/p>\n