Wild Weather: Houses Flooding, Cars Floating

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for some regions today, as wild weather continues to lash the country.

Two people are trapped in a house at Galatea, near Murupara, as flood waters are currently sitting half way up their windows.

Northern fire communications shift manager Scott Osmond said the pair are in a house on Troutbeck Rd and so far their chiller and car has floated away.

Firefighters are at the scene and can see the house but are currently unable to access the property due to the road "being completely washed out".

"They can't get out because of the rising flood waters ... the water is half way up their windows."

Mr Osmond said it was currently their only call about flooding in the area.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of the North Island today.

MetService said Bay of Plenty, Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua and Great Barrier Island could expect heavy rain, including thundery, localised downpours this morning.

Forecasters said a front and a band of heavy rain would move slowly over northeastern regions and on to eastern Bay of Plenty before clearing this afternoon.

These regions could expect sudden bouts of rainfall measuring between 25mm and 40mm an hour which was enough to cause flash flooding and make driving hazardous.

The watch would be revised at 2pm.

- NZ Herald