“This will bring a period of heavy rain and thunderstorms to many locations late this afternoon and this evening,” the post read.
The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) warns reduced speed limits and lane closures are in place for the Auckland Harbour Bridge with high winds forecast between 7pm and 9pm.
“There is also a low risk of wind gusts reaching 90km/h, which would trigger a Red wind alert,” it warned in a release.
“If wind gusts reach 90km/h, all lanes will be closed. This helps keep everyone safe and protects the bridge structure from possible vehicle impacts.”
Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions and stay in their lane while drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should avoid the bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.
There is also a low risk of thunderstorms from East Cape to the top of the North Island this evening, with winds gusting up to 90km/h.
Griffin added a trough is set to move onto the upper North Island late tomorrow morning, bringing a moderate risk of thunderstorms for northern Waikato, Auckland and Northland - with the possibility of localised heavy rain up to 15mm/h and hail up to 15mm in diameter.
MetService forecaster Luis Fernandes earlier said that while wet weather was likely to plague much of New Zealand for the rest of the week, temperatures would begin to slowly warm.
“The South Island will see temperatures bouncing back into the mid to high teens as the week goes on.
“The North Island would see temperatures climbing but remaining more or less static for a couple of days.
“Mid to high teens for most areas through to Wednesday, and for Thursday we see temperatures for most of the North Island improving to high teens and low 20s for most places.”
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