Flood room status
Flood Room is monitoring. For information on current river levels, flows and rainfall accumulations, please visit our Environmental Data Hub.
What the status levels mean
Flood Room is monitoring
Published at 5.20pm on Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Situation
The large low just east of the North Island which will impact our region. The forecast rain today (Tuesday) and Wednesday may cause localised impacts (landslips and/or flooding).
Please keep up-to-date with the current MetService weather forecasts and messages from local civil defence. The MetService weather app will notify you of severe weather alerts for your area.
Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.
MetService forecast
A complex trough of low pressure moving in from the Tasman Sea is expected to bring unsettled weather across the motu, with impacts reaching into parts of the Waikato region.
Heavy Rain Watch (Yellow) - Central North Island areas of Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taupo, including Tongariro National Park
Period: 12 hours from 3am - 3pm Wednesday, 3 December
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Thunderstorms and downpours possible. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning
Heavy Rain Warning (Orange) - Bay of Plenty including Rotorua
Period: 22 hours from 2am - midnight Wednesday, 3 December
Forecast: Expect 80 to 120 mm of rain. Peak intensities 15 to 25 mm/h, but possibly 25 to 40 mm/h in localised areas. Thunderstorms and downpours possible. Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Severe thunderstorms
A combination of heating and wind convergence are expected to bring showers to the central and upper North Island and the southeast of the South Island from late morning to early evening, with a low risk of thunderstorms as depicted on the chart. The risk of thunderstorms is considered moderate however this afternoon and evening from inland Northland to Waikato and Taupo, and across to Hawke's Bay. These thunderstorms may produce localised heavy rain and small hail, and an associated low risk of SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS with downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch - Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō
Period: 3 hours 56 minutes from 4:04pm - 8pm Tuesday, 2 December
Forecast: Conditions are favourable for the development of Severe Thunderstorms producing torrential rain and hail in Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Rotorua west of the city until this evening. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.
Further severe thunderstorm watches or warnings may be issued by MetService at short notice so please be alert for and act on these without hesitation – do not wait for further analysis by Waikato Regional Council.
For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the National Emergency Management Agency's Get Ready website.
Likely/potential Impacts
Rivers and lakes
Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Wind
There are no Wind Watches or Warnings in force for the Waikato region. The strong winds and catchments condition will likely increase tree fall susceptibility that may also trigger land instability.
Please keep up to date with information from your local power provider, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local civil defence.
Coastal impacts
A brief wave event is forecast for the West Coast, peaking around 1am on Thursday, 4 December. Peak wave heights are significant for this area; however, they currently align with low tide, reducing the likelihood of major impacts. Caution is still advised during the high tides at 9pm on Wednesday (3 December) and 9am on Thursday (4 December) in case the timing of the wave event shifts.
We will continue monitoring this event closely for the West Coast.
Land instability
Areas that would normally experience land instability may be affected by any rainfall about the hill country and ranges of the region. This may heighten the risk of landslip and people in these areas should remain vigilant for early warning signs of earth movement.
Road users should plan ahead and keep up to date with the latest from their local council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
What we're doing
Waikato Regional Council flood and drainage schemes
Our local operations staff will remain on standby to monitor our flood and drainage schemes.
Please note, drainage schemes will take time to return to the pre-event conditions post this event. Rest assured our local operations staff are monitoring.
Waikato Regional Council telemetry
Our telemetry network continues to provide real-time data on rainfall and river levels and is monitored 24/7 by our Regional Flood Response team. Visit our Environmental Data Hub for the latest river level and rainfall accumulations.
Next update
Flood Room will be updated before 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 3 December), or earlier if conditions change or weather alerts impacting our region are issued.
New Zealand Flood Pics
New Zealand Flood Pics is a photographic archive of flooding for Aotearoa New Zealand which is currently hosted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). It's free for anybody to upload or download flood photographs and your contributions are welcomed.
