The highway between Napier and Wairoa has reopened, but it may be short-lived.

Debris has been cleared from State Highway 2 to improve drainage from Lake Tutira, but Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is warning heavy rain may boost lake levels and flood the highway again.

The council says fresh slips and debris are likely on State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa and on State Highway 5 connecting Napier and Taupo.

Extreme caution is being advised and any non-essential trips should be avoided.

The latest rain radars show another surge of heavy rain moving into the Gisborne region.  Lighter rain is now falling across Hawkes Bay but WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts those rain bands around Gisborne will drift south tonight and into Wednesday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz advises all east coast residents to be up to date with the latest weather warnings, which you’ll find here.