Auckland rush hour turns into traffic nightmare as severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and 27km gridlock paralyze the city

Auckland faced traffic chaos due to bad weather. Commuters were stuck for hours on Monday. A truck spill worsened the situation on Southern Motorway. MetService issued a thunderstorm watch. Heavy rain and potential flash floods were expected. Earlier, flights were disrupted at Auckland Airport. People are advised to be cautious and delay travel. Safety is paramount during this period.