Coasties, if you’ve got the option to stay in today, take it.

MetService has issued an orange-level Heavy Rain Warning alongside a Strong Wind Watch for our area, and conditions are expected to get rough this afternoon and evening.

Up to 90mm of rain is forecast on top of what’s already fallen, with peak downpours reaching 30mm an hour.

Thunderstorms are possible.

Northerly winds could gust up to 100km/h before easing later tonight.

The worst of it is expected between 2pm and 9pm.

Auckland Transport is warning of surface flooding and disruptions to public transport, especially ferries.

Slips are possible too, making some routes unpredictable or even dangerous.

If staying home isn’t an option, take it slow. Turn your headlights on, keep your following distance long, and expect delays.

Why does this matter to locals?

Because we’ve seen how quickly things can go from wet to worrisome on the Hibiscus Coast. Streams rising, roads flooding, and that short drive turning into a hazard.

So if you don’t need to be on the roads today, it’s the perfect excuse to bunker down, put the kettle on, and wait for the wild stuff to pass.

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