Auckland north of Orewa remains under a red heavy rain warning as the most severe weather moved on from Northland in the early hours of the morning.

Waka Kotahi is warning this morning "numerous sections" of Auckland's motoways are flooded, with some sections unpassable.

MetService forecaster John Crouch says about 20-30mm an hour of 'intense rainfall' had fallen in Auckland city early this morning, but the rain band was moving south a bit faster than thought earlier.

In Swanson in west Auckland, a small sinkhole brought down powerlines and closed a road on Tuesday night.

Fire and Emergency crews were been called out to fallen powerlines or trees blocking roads or culverts in West Auckland, Bayswater and Manukau.

Whangārei Airport had 30mm of rain in an hour on Tuesday night.

MetService says the bulk of the heavy rain has moved into Auckland and Coromandel with the latter warned to expect 100 to 150mm of rain about the ranges, with lesser amounts about the coast.

The red heavy rain warning, severe thunderstorm watch, and the strong wind watch all ended for Northland at 4am.

Slightly less rain is now forecast for Auckland than earlier - up to 90mm - but the warning remains at the highest red level, with heavy downpours possible in small areas.

It says the heaviest rain has moved on from the far north of Northland but some falls are still possible.

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