More evacuations are underway in Whanganui, with residents in flood-prone areas to be cleared by 10am today.

SEE ALSO: Newstalk ZB's live weather blog

Civil Defence now says the Whanganui River will rise to lower levels than first predicted, with the river expected to peak at 13.8 metres in Pipiriki at 11 this evening.

Hits Whanganui announcer Darryl Mallett told Rachel Smalley the river is nearly touching the boardwalk along Taupo Quay.

"We're not gonna be looking at a major event until later on tonight, so they reckon after 5 o'clock tonight is when we're potentially looking at the flooding in town."

A number of evacuations have also taken further south, in the Rangitikei District, around Marton.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DARRYL MALLETT SPEAKS WITH RACHEL SMALLEY