UPDATED – 12.20pm: The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge will be closed today at 1pm.

The closure is due to the rise of the Ohinemuri River because of heavy rains and SH2 is currently down to one lane after a slip near the centre of the gorge which occurred sometime before 11am.

The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that the Karangahake Gorge will be closed this afternoon at 1pm. Photo: James Bedford

While the Waikato Regional Council is also warning motorists travelling to Paeroa from Hamilton that temporary flood protection structures may be employed on the Criterion Bridge, which will prevent traffic getting into the town.

'The hazards team is also liaising with Mighty River Power over managing the flow of water through the hydro dam system on the Waikato River to help minimise flooding,” says the regional council.

'All river levels in the region are currently elevated and the level is expected to rise further as the recent rain works its way further into waterways.”

Rain in parts of the Waikato is expected to be quite intense into as late as the early afternoon today before things settle down.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council has also updated its list of road closures caused by surface flooding, slips, debris and fallen trees:

THAMES:

• Tapu Coroglen Road – Slip at the 15km mark and surface water flooding, Transfield attending and the road is open.
• Old Maratoto Rd, Wires Rd, Kauaeranga Valley Rd and Otamakite Rd – All three roads are closed due to the fords being impassable.
• SH25 – Closed at Prescotts Garage.
• Davy St, Albert St, Brown St and Fergusson Drive –Surface flooding due to the high tide, roads are passable with caution and the water is receding.
• Waiotahi Road – Water over the ford, is passable with care.

THAMES COAST

• Victoria St number 2 ford and Waiomu Valley Rd – Both closed due to the fords being flooded.

WHANGAMATA, TAIRUA AND PAUANUI

• Wentworth Valley Rd – Closed due to surface water flooding.

COROMANDEL

• Port Jackson Rd fords – All are in flood, but road is open.
• The 309 Rd – Small slips and trees down, but road is open, caution is advised.
• Kennedy Bay Rd – Surface water flooding, small trees and debris, road is open and is being monitored.
• SH25, Coromandel at the 309 Road tunoff up to Pound Street – Surface water flooding, road is open and caution is advised.
• Te Kouma Rd – Three slips which are coned and signed, but road is open.
• Port Charles Rd – Closed due to a tree over the road (50m north of Adlor Hill Rd).

The MetServices rain radar, as of 12.06pm. Image: MetService

EARLIER – 11.35am:

The NZ Transport Agency is warning motorists to avoid or delay travel through the Karangahake Gorge following a slip this morning.

The agency says State Highway 2, near the middle of the gorge, is currently down to one lane following the slip which was reported to them at about 11am.

On Twitter, RadioLive also reports the gorge is likely to be closed later this afternoon as the Ohinemuri River's water levels continue to rise due to today's heavy rain.

There are also several road closures currently in place on the Coromandel which are due to surface flooding and fallen trees.

These closures include: East Coast Rd (Miranda North), SH25 (Tairua To Whangamata), Hikuai Settlement Rd (Hikuai), Kennedy Bay Rd (Coromandel and Kennedy Bay), The 309 Rd (Te Kouma and Kaimarama), and Port Jackson Rd (Port Jackson).

#rtpt Karangahake Gorge likely to be closed later this afternoon as water levels continue to rise due to heavy rain.

— RadioLIVE Newsroom (@LIVENewsDesk) August 31, 2015

EARLIER - 9.55am:

With heavy rain forecast to continue Waikato Police are urging motorists traveling through the Coromandel to use extreme care today.

Waikato District Command Centre senior sergeant Andrew Townsend says emergency services are also assessing State Highway 2 in the Karangahake Gorge, between Paeroa and Waihi, due to rising river levels.

'Extra Waikato Road Policing units are being deployed to the area today to assist,” says Andrew. 'However, the simplest thing to do to prevent issues arising is to avoid unnecessary travel and if you do need to travel, drive safely and to the conditions.”

Heavy rains and strong winds which have battered the Coromandel overnight have caused several road closures in Tairua, Hikuai, Kaiaua and Whangamata this morning.

Motorists and locals in coastal areas are also being asked to take care this morning as the winds and rains are set to continue, coupled with an expected 3.2m king tide at about 9am.

The AA Roadwatch website reports flooding on State Highway 25 between Tairua and Whangamata, while Tairua, Hikuai Settlement, and East Coast roads are closed until further notice due to flooding.

Motorists are also being asked to avoid or delay travel through the Duck Creek area in Pauanui due to surface flooding.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council says they've also received reports of minor slips on the Thames Coast and Kopu-Hikuai roads, but they remain open.

'Extra caution advised on roads with lots of surface flooding and potential coastal inundation of low lying roads around high tide this morning.”

Several roads in the Coromandel are closed due to flooding, and with more winds and rains expected the MetService has re-issued its severe weather watch. Image: MetService

The district council adds that Hikuai and Opoutere Schools are also closed today due to localised flooding.

The following school buses will also not be operating today due to localised flooding: Tairua-Pauanui- Hikuai, Thames High School Bus, Tairua-Opoutere Area School bus run, and Whangamata-Opoutere.

The MetService has re-issued a severe weather watch for the Coromandel as they predict more heavy rain for the northern half of North Island along with easterly gales.

'A deep low lying west of the North Island is expected to move over the South Island early Wednesday,” says the MetService.

'Associated fronts are expected to move across northern and central New Zealand during Tuesday. These fronts are preceded by strong to gale easterly winds, with outbreaks of heavy rain expected about northern and central parts of the North Island.”

The MetService predicts the terrible weather should last until around late Tuesday morning, but warn locals that heavy downpours in localised areas could cause flash flooding.

Locals living in and around coastal areas or also being asked to take care with a 3.2m king tide expected at about 9am today.

Posting to Facebook, Civil Defence Waikato explains what is and how a king tide is caused. But as they say: a picture is worth a thousand words.

Image: Civil Defence Waikato/Facebook

The MetService advises locals to keep up to date with the latest forecasts as it is possible that parts of this watch could be upgraded to a full warning.

A severe weather warning is issued whenever there is an expectation that widespread rainfall will be greater than 50 mm within six hours, or 100 mm within 24 hours.

Warnings are also issued if widespread severe gales reach a minimum speed of 90 km/hr or frequent gusts exceeding 110 km/hr.