Heavy rain moving north

Parts of Northland, the Coromandel and the Western Bay of Plenty are in for a soaking and there's more heavy rain on the way for the Nelson area.

MetService is forecasting a slow moving front over Westland to bring heavy rain to Nelson today, especially around the ranges.

An extension of the same frontal band will move across Northland tomorrow morning, in time for a deepening low to form in the north.

MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow said heavy rain and strong gale northeast winds are expected from Northland to the Bay of Plenty.

Mr Barrow said the heaviest falls are likely to be around eastern Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula and eastern Bay of Plenty.

"At this stage it remains unclear if total amounts will reach warning criteria in both northwest Nelson and over the upper North Island," Mr Barrow said.

- NZHERALD STAFF