With the end of the school holidays upon us, people expecting to travel around or through the Coromandel and wider Waikato tomorrow, should plan ahead for hazardous weather.

A Heavy Rain Warning has been issued by Metservice for Friday 11 July through to early Saturday morning 12 July for the region.

The ground is already sodden from higher than usual rainfall in June, meaning there is a risk of flooding in low lying areas, as well as slips, surface water and debris on the road.

People are advised to drive to the conditions and keep an eye on the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Journey Planner and Metservice for latest information metservice.com/warnings/home(external link)

A RED Heavy Rain Warning is in place tomorrow for the Coromandel which will be accompanied by strong northeasterlies.

90-110mm of rain is expected for the ranges, and around 50-70mm of rain is expected to fall on State Highway 25 and surrounding roads, with most falling Friday evening.

Drivers should be prepared that road surfaces could be slippery due to surface water and there’s a possibility of downed trees or powerlines and debris on the roads.

The heaviest falls should finish early Saturday morning.

The Bay of Plenty is also under a Heavy Rain Watch with heavy falls expected Friday afternoon.