UPDATED 12.55PM: State Highway 25 from the Tairua township to the SH25/SH25a intersection remains closed due to flooding on the Hikuai Flats.

But some good news: SH25A between Kopu to Hikuai is now open, while SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge and SH25/Whangapoua Road are also both open but with stop/go management in place.

Heavy rains overnight has caused substantial flooding around the Coromandel. Photo: TCDC/Facebook

However, the Thames-Coromandel District Council is also advising Coromandel motorists that the Tapu-Coroglen, Kennedy Bay and Hikuai Settlement roads will remain closed until further notice.

Extreme caution is still required as there is still surface flooding on many roads across the peninsula.

Council is also asking people to take extreme caution around rivers, with many becoming swollen due to the heavy rains.

The Karangahape River reached 14.9m high but has since dropped to 14.6m, while the Kauaeranga River reached 8.7m high but is now down to 7.5m.

While the Tairua River peaked at 5.0m – the highest level in three years - and is now currently at 3.2m. Also at its peak, the river's flow was a phenomenal 530 cumecs per second – the current flow of the Waikato River is 270 cumecs per second.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council will be providing regular updates via their Facebook page.

EARLIER:

Several roads and schools across the Coromandel have been closed due to flooding caused by the heavy rains overnight.

According to the NZ Transport Agency, flooding has closed several sections of State Highway 25 near Whitianga and Hikuai, while SH25A east of Kopu has been reduced to one lane.

While the Thames-Coromandel District Council says the Tapu-Coroglen Road and Kennedy Bay Road are also closed. However, an excavator has been dispatched to Kennedy Bay Road and it should be open by lunch time.

The NZTA confirms SH25 is closed from Wade Road to The 309 Road near Whitianga, and from the intersection with SH25A near Hikuai to Tairua.

'These closures cut off a section of the Coromandel between Whitianga and Hikuai. Please avoid any necessary travel and take extra care.”

On SH25A, a slip between Kirikiri Valley Road and Puketui Road has seen the highway reduced to one lane and a stop/go operation is now in place. The agency advises motorists to expect delays in the area.

Motorists travelling south towards the Bay of Plenty are also being warned that flooding has closed SH2 between Philip Walter Drive and Lindemann Road north of Katikati this morning.

Thames-Coromandel District Council is also advising that due to flooding Opoutere, Hikaui and Waihi Beach schools are all closed.

In a statement, council says flooding has also occurred at McLeod Straight near Whitianga which means the following school bus services will not be running today:

• Tairua/Pauanui to Thames High
• Tairua/Hikuai to Opoutere School and Whangamata Area School
• Tairua to Mercury Bay Area School
• Coroglen to Mercury Bay Area School
• Mill Creek to Mercury Bay Area School
• 309 to Mercury Bay Area School

'The Intercity Loop service between Whitianga and Thames, and return to Whitianga will not run this morning. We hope this will run this afternoon,” says council.

The MetService says scattered heavy showers or thunderstorms will be mostly clearing this morning, but a few possibly heavy showers will returning this afternoon. The westerly winds should also die out this morning, but strong southeasterlies are expected to develop in the evening.

SunLive will bring you updated information when it is available.

If you have information please call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Rainfall Image on the Coromandel overnight: TCDC/Facebook