Light relief on a wet journey home

A striking sunset gave Auckland commuters a colourful ride home during heavy rain last night.

A Herald photographer captured this man walking home from work under an umbrella and a golden sky on Albert St in the central city as the weather stayed miserable.

The MetService had earlier issued a "severe weather watch", saying heavy rain and thunderstorms were forecast for Northland and Auckland and due to last until early this afternoon.

Rainfall was expected to exceed 25mm to 50mm an hour.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips," said MetService forecaster Andy Downs.

"Driving conditions will also be hazardous, with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain."

Rainfall of 30 to 50mm an hour was reported in Kerikeri yesterday afternoon and traffic on Auckland motorways was moving slowly.

WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan said with autumn leaves blocking drains and cracks in the ground from the drought, there was an increased risk of flooding and slips.

"People should avoid being near cliffs along the beaches as this heavy rain could see slips and rockfalls."