Tokoroa flooding: Vehicles stuck as roads closed in South Waikato
Several vehicles have become stuck in serious flooding near Tokoroa, prompting road closures and an emergency services response.
Police received the first reports of vehicles becoming stuck in floodwaters about 2.25pm.
Old Taupō Rd has been closed northwest of Tokoroa, while South Waikato District Council has closed Matanuku Rd through to the Waotu intersection with Old Taupō Rd.
Flooding has also been reported on Waotu Rd and Wiltsdown Rd.
Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are at the scene.
Fire and Emergency said two crews from Putāruru and Tokoroa were assisting police and had recommended the council close the affected road.
Police have asked motorists and residents to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
MetService issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 4.46pm for South Waikato and Rotorua, with torrential rain and large hail forecast.
At 4.37pm, severe thunderstorms were detected near Tokoroa, Putāruru, Lichfield and Hodderville, moving southeast.
MetService said the storms could cause surface or flash flooding and make driving hazardous. Large hail could also damage vehicles, crops and glasshouses.
The warning is valid until 5.37pm. A severe thunderstorm watch also remains in force for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupō.
The National Emergency Management Agency advised people to take shelter as storms approached and to avoid streams and drains because of the danger of flash flooding.
Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.