Most Kiwis will see some fine weather this week with only a few spots copping heavy rain.
Heavy rain watches are in place for Fiordland and Northland today with up to 100mm and 80mm forecast respectively. A heavy rain warning will bring 80mm to the Westland Ranges with peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr possible in thunderstorms from around midday.
Northland has been added to the heavy rainfall Watch. Possible thunderstorms may cause some areas to experience significant rain during Sunday and early Monday, especially in the north and east of Northland. ^AG https://t.co/rsVsUgcPUy
Scattered showers may affect Coromandel, Gisborne and Christchurch today, MetService meteorologist Josh Griffin said. The rest of the country would be mainly fine.
A ridge building up over the South Island would bring isolated showers from the south which would clear by Wednesday.
The North Island would start the week with cloudy periods and showers in the north on Monday. By Tuesday, the isolated showers would slip down the country and become more frequent in the Central Plateau. On Wednesday possibly heavy rain would develop around Hawke's Bay, Griffin said.
Mostly fine weather is gracing the country at the start of autumn. Photo / Brett Phibbs
"Basically the North Island is a bit rainy in the north then the rain develops in more places later in the week. The South Island is a little bit rainier to start the week then improves," Griffin told the Herald.
"And it'll be a little bit warmer this week."
Yesterday was a beautiful day for those attending the many events around Auckland.
Revellers at the Vodafone Derby Day, Auckland City Limits Music Festival and Auckland Lantern Festival were able to enjoy festivities in warm, sunny weather.
— Auckland City Limits (@ACLFestivalNZ) March 3, 2018
As the country moves further into autumn the nights are getting longer which makes for heavy morning dew and slightly cooler mornings.
The second week of March may see a weather pattern shift. High pressure remains centred over the South Island while the wet, humid, sub-tropics sink southwards over the North Island.
The sub-tropics are getting more active in the coming week or two, with Sydney and New South Wales facing day after to day of rain or heavy downpours with humid easterlies. The same easterlies expected to clip northern NZ.
In the second week of March there's a chance the North Island will be drenched by humid sub-tropical airflows slowed down by high pressure in the South Island.
Main centre forecasts
Whangarei Showers, chance heavy, with thunder possible in the morning. Easterlies and a high of 25°C.
Auckland Partly cloudy, a few showers north of the city. Easterlies and a high of 26°C.
Hamilton Mainly fine, chance afternoon shower. Light winds and a high of 26°C.
Tauranga Partly cloudy with a few showers. Easterlies with a high of 25°C.
Wellington Fine. Northerly breezes and a high of 23°C.
Amy Walsh talks to the Herald about search efforts after her 19 year old daughter Maia Johnston disappeared in Totara Park Upper Hutt. Video / NZ Herald
