Weather: Enjoy the sun - 5m waves, heavy rain and thunderstorms are on the way

Heavy swells on East Coast beaches and spring tides have combined to cause major erosion in front of several houses on the beach front at the Pare St end of Wainui Beach. Photo / Gisborne Herald

North Islanders have been warned to brace for heavy downpours and thunderstorms courtesy of a weather pattern brewing in the Tasman.

And residents in coastal areas of Gisborne have also been evacuated after damage caused by large swells and high tides.

Despite the sun shining across much of the North Island this afternoon, Niwa has issued a warning about a big wet front to be felt tonight.

"The swirl over the Tasman will bring showers & thunderstorms to the upper North Island very late tonight & early Sunday morning," it posted on Twitter.

"This same system has also resulted in some damaging wind gusts in the Sydney area.

"In the meantime, enjoy today!"

The swirl over the Tasman will bring showers & thunderstorms to the upper North Island very late tonight & early Sunday morning.

This same system has also resulted in some damaging wind gusts in the Sydney area.

In the meantime, enjoy today! 🌤️ pic.twitter.com/koQadQgubp

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 7, 2019

Some residents at Wainui Beach, on the outskirts of Gisborne, left their homes as a precaution before large swells coupled with high tides are set to wreak havoc this afternoon.

The inhabitants of two beachfront houses on Pare St moved out last night as king tides washed ashore.

There were concerns there had already been damage and some coastal erosion, MetService meteorologist Peter Little said.

Local council officials are checking out potential property damage on Wainui Beach, Gisborne. Photo / Alan Gibson

Contractors and engineers from the Gisborne City Council were on site late last night to assess the area and returned this morning.

Gisborne District Council director of community lifelines David Wilson said there was more damage when high tide peaked at midday today.

One property has lost four to five metres of its section and land has eroded from another property coming within 5-6m of a house, said Wilson.

Powerful easterly swells took out some protection works, including a retaining wall and a further 4m of a section has dropped out.

The retaining wall gave way about 2am.

Rock from a local quarry is being used to fill and protect the properties temporarily until a decision is made as to the next steps.

"Swells are now starting to ease, however there is still a lot of water moving around,'' said Wilson.

Wilson said the response team will be back on site at 5am tomorrow to move more rock into the affected area.

Another property had also lost some concrete stairs, however the risk to that property was significantly less.

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has been notified.

Meanwhile, the MetService said the weather should improve in the upper North Island from tomorrow afternoon.

Parts of the North Island will reach highs of up to 20C, particularly in Northland.

But temperatures will drop in the lower North Island and much of the South Island as a cold front moves in.

Snow warnings are in place for the Desert Rd where 3cm to 6cm is expected to settle on the summit on Sunday morning at 800m.

Anyone heading out and about this week should keep a brolly or a coat handy as there will be periods of rain or showers, particularly over much of the North Island.