KEY POINTS:
Northland residents face a lengthy period of rain and high winds with the possibility of flooding tomorrow and Wednesday, the MetService has warned.
Meteorologists today issued severe weather warnings for wind and rain over northern areas.
They said a low pressure system in the Tasman Sea was deepening and should sideswipe the north on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"People in Northland should brace for a lengthy spell of heavy rain," MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said.
Around 200mm of rain might fall over parts of Northland between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, he said.
"Heavy rain is forecast to move southwards during Tuesday and also affect Coromandel Peninsula and northern parts of Auckland.
"There may be bursts of rain that will rapidly raise streams and rivers and produce surface flooding."
Mr McDavitt said winds in the north were also likely to reach damaging strength.
"Easterly winds gusting around 120km/h are likely from the Bay of Islands to the Auckland harbour bridge area from Tuesday morning until Wednesday morning."
He said similar gusts might last until noon Wednesday on the Hauraki Plains in the Waikato, and until late Wednesday about Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
The winds might be strong enough to lift unsecured objects and damage trees and powerlines.
"Today's the day to tidy up the back yard, clear the drains and check your moorings before Tuesday's big blow."
- NZPA
