A heavy rain watch was in force Sunday for Northland and Auckland including Great Barrier Island.

The watch is until 6pm in Northland and 9am Monday in Auckland.

On Sunday morning, a short-lived thunderstorm warning was issued for Northland, when thunderstorms were detected.

However, another severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Northland from noon on Sunday.

A Heavy Rain Watch in in force for Auckland, valid until 9am Monday.

Northland remains under a Heavy Rain Watch until 6pm today.

There is currently also a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in force for Northland.

Keep up to date here https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5… pic.twitter.com/VB3UzUdtmY

— MetService (@MetService) April 27, 2025

MetService said there was the potential for localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour, which could occur with or without thunderstorms.

A road in the Far North that recently reopened last Christmas after a two-year closure has suffered another setback.

The Mangamuka Gorge on SH1 from Kaitaia to Okaihau closed Sunday after debris came down onto the road.

A detour was in place.

The road had only been open for four months, after a storm in August 2022 triggered dozens of damaging slips, closing the gorge until the end of last year.

Flooding made driving conditions in Northland difficult in many areas on Sunday.

A tree had also fallen onto power lines, knocking out electricity to 73 customers at Parihaka in Whangārei.

A further five households south of Whangārei are also without power.

Northpower expected power to be restored by 3pm Sunday.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.