KEY POINTS:
Weather experts, civil defence, police and at least one power company are issuing warnings as a miserable blast of torrential rain and gale force winds look set to lash parts of the North Island today.
MetService yesterday sent out a severe weather warning with parts of Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Ranges and the Western Bay of Plenty expected to cop the worst of it.
Heavy downfalls are expected throughout the North Island with at least 120mm of rain predicted in Northland and Auckland while the Coromandel Ranges could see up to 250mm by 6pm.
Meanwhile, eastern parts of the Waikato are expected to be buffeted by gusts of wind up to 140km/h this morning and exposed places in Auckland and Northland are also likely to be affected by gale force easterly winds.
Lines company Vector said although extra staff had been rostered over the weekend, its customers in Wellsford, Warkworth, Whangaparaoa, Waiheke and Clevedon needed to prepare for possible outages.
Vector spokeswoman Philippa White warned people to stay clear of fallen power lines or damaged electrical equipment and treat them as live at all times.
Auckland civil defence said people should clear drains and spouting of any blockages.
Pets should be kept inside, loose objects that could fly around in strong winds secured, and staying off the roads is advised.
People should have a torch and batteries handy, at least one telephone which did not rely on mains power and an alternative cooking method such as a gas barbecue.
Waikato operations manager for police, Freda Grace, said people should reconsider any unnecessary trips into the bush.
"There's not too much pleasure to be taken tramping in atrocious weather conditions and we'd rather not risk the lives of police staff and civilian volunteer search and rescue teams if we could avoid it."
Police were also cautioning boaties to check their moorings and farmers to ensure the well-being of their stock.
MetService weather forecaster Peter Smith said the atrocious weather was caused by a deepening depression north of the country which was pushing a warm front preceded by strengthening easterly winds and rain.
"We are expecting that band of rain to gradually spread over the North Island on Saturday," said Mr Smith.
But he said the severe weather should pass by tomorrow and Aucklanders considering going to the Auckland Cup Week's parade of champions, the re-scheduled Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest or the last Teddy Bear's picnic at the Domain could look forward to cloudy periods with showers.
Meanwhile, Niwa said there was not only an 80 per cent chance of average or above average autumn temperatures in the North Island but oyster lovers can look forward to bigger and better Bluff oysters when the season opens tomorrow.
Niwa fisheries scientist Keith Michael said levels of bonamia, a disease which affects larger oysters, had been dropping off since 2005.
- additional reporting by NZPA
