The localised bursts of tropical-like downpours in the upper North Island over the past 24 hours have caused a number of road closures, slips and floods. Only a week or so ago we showed you a video from eastern Coromandel Peninsula farmers Brian Tanner, showing spring on his farm – now he’s showing brown flood waters as New Zealand perhaps sees the firsts signs of La Nina on our doorstep.

In recent weeks farmers across Australia – in typically very dry inland areas – have faced similar deluges and flooding.  WeatherWatch.co.nz has been reporting that Australia’s wetter weather pattern is now affecting the North Island.

“I emptied 65mm out of my rain gauge yesterday morning and 150mm this morning so Hikuai is a bit wet!!” Brian Tanner told WeatherWatch.co.nz this afternoon. “Just glad that as I write it’s nearly sunny and there is no rain”.

More rain may, in fact, return to the western Bay of Plenty and eastern Coromandel Peninsula tonight – while it doesn’t look as intense as it was yesterday and overnight it may still be unwanted and cause more pressure on already flooded rivers and saturated hillsides.

Thanks for the update Brian – *perhaps* a drier pattern for you next week.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz