Flash Flooding in Coromandel

The torrential rain came down hard and intense, with 80-90mm of water falling in the space of an hour. Images: Annelise Greenfield/Stuff.

Flash flooding hit the small tourist town of Matarangi on the east coast of the Coromandel on Saturday afternoon, as a slow, intense and localised thunderstorm passed through the area.

Meteorologist Peter Little says while Metservice did not have a station at Matarangi specifically, a local gauge had reported 80-90mm of rain in about an hour.

"That's very, very heavy. I'm not surprised at all that they have had some flooding."

He says the thunderstorm had been slow moving but "localised and intense" which created unique circumstances not often seen in the area.

The storm has since "migrated" to the east and weakened, and was out to sea off the Bay of Plenty.

Regular visitor to the area Annelise Greenfield says the flooding had reached some houses, but not where she was staying.

The Matarangi shops had "flooded out" and she says a pump was being used to remove the water.

Annelise had been coming to Matarangi for around 10 years.

"I've never seen flooding like that. It's mostly subsided now. It will keep the gardens going."

-Stuff.co.nz/Felix Desmarais

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