UPDATE 6.15pm: SunLive's readers are reporting numerous road hazards as heavy rain lashes the region. Police are urging drivers to stay off the roads amidst multiple closures and delays.

Major potholes have developed in the northbound passing lane heading from Waihi to Paeroa, according to Leanne Drake, who saw a number of people nearly crash as they lost control when hitting the holes at speed. She says there is a lot of surface flooding and slips through the gorge. "The river is raging about one to two feet from the road."

She says she was driving at 60km/h maximum yet other motorists were passing at around 100km/h or more.

One motorist says he lost a tyre due to the conditions. Samuel Luckman-Finlay reports a near miss, and he wasnt even going fast.

Helen Wilson at Waikino says the river is high but isnt flooded yet.

In Whitianga, Carl Gubb posts that one lane is now open as the tide recedes.

NZTA says SH25 closed south of Tairua. Here's an update of TCDC roads that are closed or have issues reported, plus an update on some Thames Valley communities' water supplies as of 6:30pm Sunday.

NZ Transport Agency says SH25 is closed at the intersection with Hikuai Settlement Road. Check the NZTA website for the latest updates on state highways in the Coromandel: www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

District roads:

Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding.

Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed.

Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring.

SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips on road. Contractors are clearing.

Tapu-Coroglen Rd - Open, but slips reported.

309 RD - Open. Was closed earlier due to tree down.

Kennedy Bay Rd - Open. Closed earlier due to slip.

Water supplies:

Hikutaia and Omahu Valley Rd should be receiving water by early tomorrow. Some supply from Puriri being diverted but this will take time to come through. Puriri will experience low water pressure while some supplies are diverted. A valve is blocked and can not be reached because of high river levels.

Matatoki now has no water. Crews can't reach the water intake to investigate the problem because a bridge is flooded. No ETA on resolution.

The weather forecast:

The heavy rain is expected to continue until Monday morning, potentially bringing another 100mm of rain on top of what's already fallen on Sunday morning.

The message from Civil Defence is watch for rapidly rising waters, avoid waterways and if travelling take extreme care as there is debris on roads from lots of minor slips.

Delay travel plans until Monday to reduce risks.

UPDATE: 6pm. Police ask motorists to avoid unnecessary travel in the Coromandel Peninsula today due to extreme weather conditions.

Emergency services have assisted multiple drivers with removing their cars after they have got stuck trying to drive through flooded waters.

State Highway 25 is closed near the intersection of Hikuai Settlement Road due to flooding, and no diversions into Pauanui are available.

There is also a slip on State Highway 3, Mokau River, and another on State Highway 2 on Karangahake Gorge, causing significant delays.

Many other roads are flooded, including Kopu-Hikuai Road and the Kauaeranga Valley Road, so all unnecessary travel should be avoided.

During this poor weather, Police remind motorists to exercise caution – keep speeds down, maintain a safe following distance, and avoid driving through any flooded areas.

Earlier: Flooding and slips are ravaging the Coromandel Peninsula, with a report of a vehicle caught is rising stream waters on the Hikuai Settlement road near Pauanui. No one is believed to be in danger.

There are reports of flooding on the Coromandel. Photo: Metservice.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is also reporting flooding and slips on SH 25.

Metservice's Bay of Plenty rain radar at 3.13pm shows the area can expect persistent rain for some hours. High tide at Whangamata was 3.40pm.

The Duck Creek road is closed.

UPDATE 5pm. Here's the TCDC roading update:

A few roads have been closed on the Coromandel because of flooding or slips. With rain forecast through the evening and night, be very careful if travelling.

Here are the roads we know are closed or that have a weather-related issue as of 5pm Sunday:

Kennedy Bay Rd - we hear this is now open.

Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring.

SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips covering road. Contractors notified.

There is stop-go control on SH25 between Prescott's Garage and Tairua because of flooding on the highway. Some vehicles are being allowed through.

Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding.Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed

SH25 at Onemana/Opoutere - Wharekawa River very high at SH25 bridge.

309 RD - was closed due to tree down, now open.

No water in Hikutaia and Omahu Valley Rd area. Valve blocked and unreachable because of high river levels. No ETA on resolution.

The heavy rain is expected to continue until Monday morning, potentially bringing another 100mm of rain on top of what's already fallen on Sunday morning.

The message from Civil Defence is watch for rapidly rising waters, avoid waterways and if travelling take extreme care as there is debris on roads from lots of minor slips.

The mid-afternoon high tide is making low-lying coastal roads prone to flooding.

Delay travel plans until Monday to reduce risks.

There's flooding at Hikuai. Photo: NZTA.