Heavy rain warnings are in place across the country. Photo / Metservice
Heavy rain warnings are in place across the country. Photo / Metservice
Wet weather that battered the North Island overnight is set to continue to bring rain to most of the country throughout today.
MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said a low out towards the Tasman Sea was bringing a series of fronts across the country.
This low had mostly affected the North Island yesterday, especially areas of Northland and Auckland.
In Auckland, 30-35mm of rain had fallen yesterday before briefly easing in the evening.
But a warm front which crossed the central North Island last night would be followed by a cold front, bringing more rain to most of the North Island overnight, he said.
WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan said the downpours moving across the Auckland region last night were likely to clear by this morning.
The rain across the country this morning. Photo / Metservice
But areas south of Auckland were likely to experience heavy rain.
"[This] morning, downpours heavy enough to cause surface and flash flooding are possible into areas southeast of Auckland, as the front moves away from Northland and Auckland and towards Gisborne and the Hawkes Bay ranges. Those in between will get the heaviest falls."
Mr Doolin said the series of fronts would head south today. "In the morning there will be quite a bit over the North Island and that will be set in until at least the evening. Then things are going to move their way down the South Island."
By this evening, the low was expected to be sitting off the west coast of the South Island.
Mr Doolin said severe weather warnings and watches were in place for areas of the country today.
"We've got heavy rain warnings out for the Kaimai Ranges and Bay of Plenty west of Matata.
"Also a heavy rain warning for Waikato and Nelson west of Motueka. That is expected into around midday or this afternoon. Then it will ease."
Mr Doolin said another low was developing behind the current one, which would bring more wet weather for the rest of the week.
"Going into Wednesday, mostly the North Island and western areas of the South Island are going to be affected by that low that comes on.
"Although it's looking like it is not going to be as intense a system as the one that's affecting us at the moment."
By the weekend, Mr Duncan said, a low forecast could create storm-like conditions. "It's still too early to lock in - but the low does look like it will deepen and cross the North Island overnight Friday or across Saturday.
"It may affect the entire North Island and upper South Island."
While the "potential storm" looked as if it would move across the country quickly, it could still bring 12 to 36 hours of bad weather to some regions.
Today's forecast:
Whangarei: Heavy rain until early northwest change, then fine. High 19C Low 10C Auckland: Heavy rain, strong northeasterly until morning northwesterly change, then fine. High 17C Low 11C Hamilton: Rain until late morning northwesterly change, then fine spells. High 16C Low 8C Tauranga: Heavy rain, strong northeasterly until noon northwesterly change, then fine. High 17C Low 10C Wellington: Rain clears afternoon. Strong southeasterly then strong northerly. High 13C Low 9C Christchurch: Drizzle turning to rain. Southeast tending northeast. High 10C Low 2C
