• Strong winds are lashing the top of the North Island, with gusts of about 100kph.
• In Northland and the Far North, two schools and eight roads are closed, while thousands are without electricity.
• The speed limit on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge has been lowered and ferry services cancelled due to the weather.
• The bad weather is expected to continue throughout the week.

Thousands of Northlanders are without power and schools and roads are shut as strong rain and wind lashes the North Island.

In the Far North, Top Energy is reporting more than 2500 homes and businesses are without power.

A major power cut reported at 9am saw the power go down for 1752 customers in Paihia, Bay of Islands.

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A further 316 homes in Kaitāia were also without power and 200 between Taipā and Mangonui.

There were also power cuts affecting a smaller number of people in Pukenui, Waipapakauri, Oruru, Whangaroa, Mitimiti and Rawene.

In the Whangārei and Kaipara areas, Northpower reported 370 homes without power in Oneriri, as well as power cuts in Tangowahine, Arapohue and Paparoa-Oakleigh Rd.

At least eight roads were obstructed in Whangārei on Monday morning and the council was asking travellers to take care.

The Northland Regional Council webcam showed the river near Kaeo had burst its banks.

The largest amount of rainfall would likely be from Northland down to East Cape, with Mount Taranaki, western Tasman and Marlborough also likely to see heavy rainfall.

It was expected gusts could get up to 120kph on Monday.

Power outages and traffic delays may be on the way, Whangārei District Council warned.

Commuters should watch out for flooding, road slips, and fallen trees.

Schools closed

In the Far North, at least two schools were closed for what would have been the first day of term.

Peria School, east of Kaitāia, was closed due to flooding and “unsafe” weather conditions, principal Ariana Williams posted on Facebook.

“School will be closed today. Please stay home and stay safe. Take care whānau!”

Nearby Pāmapūria School was also closed due to a power cut caused by the weather.

The bad weather is expected to continue throughout the day as a low pressure system travels down the country.

Weather warnings, watches issued

MetService meteorologist John Law said strong winds were expected to peak during the day and continue overnight in Auckland.

“We’ve already seen gusts of wind in exposed areas of about 100kph, and it’s been pretty windy through the night time in those exposed areas,” Law said.

The low pressure system is currently sitting to the northwest and is expected to continue moving down the country throughout the week, bringing with it more wet and windy weather.

“It’s one to keep an eye on as we head into tomorrow for places like Canterbury and the South Island, as easterly winds push rainfall back onto those areas.”

MetService had issued a number of weather watches and warnings across the North and South Island.

In the North Island, heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Auckland from Whangaparāoa northwards, the Coromandel Peninsula, the western Bay of Plenty and Mount Taranaki until Tuesday, with up to 120-160mm of rain expected in places.

In Auckland south of Whangaparāoa, MetService has issued a heavy rain watch until Tuesday afternoon.

Other rain watches are in place around the country for Marlborough, Gisborne from Ruatoria northwards and the Eastern Bay of Plenty between Monday afternoon and midday Tuesday.

South Island drenching

As the low drives southward, the South Island’s regions will see heavy rain in already soaked areas.

Canterbury south of the Rakaia river, North Otago and Dunedin should expect rainfall of up to 130mm in places, with warnings in place from the early hours of Tuesday morning until Wednesday morning.

Tasman has also been issued a heavy rain warning for between 3pm Monday and 9am Tuesday.

There are warnings about strong wind and gusts for Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel Peninsula, Eastern Waikato and Gisborne. Canterbury, Marlborough and Buller in the South Island will also see strong northeasterly and easterly winds.

In Auckland on Monday, MetService said rain with heavy falls was expected with strong northeasterlies that could gust up to 110kph.

The speed limit was reduced on the harbour bridge on Monday morning and Auckland motorists should expect possible closures over the bridge during the day due to high winds, Waka Kotahi NZTA said.

“Caution is advised, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists,” the website said.

Closures may occur on the bridge if severe winds gust over 90kph.

All Gulf Harbour ferry services had been replaced by buses and shuttles due to the weather, Auckland Transport said.

Some West Harbour ferry services had also been cancelled.

Rain should ease to showers later in the week for Auckland and Northland, with next weekend shaping up to be fine apart from a few showers further North.

MetService advised people to stay up to date with weather watches and warnings in their area.