Wet weather on the way for most of North Island

Wet weather is on the way for most of the North Island. Photo / Thinkstock

Wet weather is on the way for most of the North Island but will clear by the middle of the week and become mainly fine for Thursday and Friday.

A band of rain making its way up the North Island overnight, may cause some surface flooding in the Auckland area, Weather Watch analysts said.

Some isolated heavy downpours and lighter showers will affect Auckland tomorrow, with the region in for a high of 15C.

MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said there could still be some showers north of Auckland on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as areas of Gisborne and Wairarapa, however it would be mainly fine.

"We've got a ridge of high pressure coming on Wednesday and Thursday so that will mean there'll be a few showers behind that front and as the ridge comes on, those showers should get fewer."

The building high pressure will push temperatures up and bring dry and settled weather later in the week for most of the North Island.

MetService meteorologist Emma Blades said parts of Manawatu and Taranaki were in for some heavy rain tonight but it was expected to clear by Wednesday.

"The main band of rain will reach the North Island on Monday night, and a heavy rain warning is in place for Mount Taranaki and the Tararua Range,"

Snow showers are likely to lower to 400 metres in the southern half of the South Island tonight, with the mountains in Wanaka and Queenstown in for a fresh dusting of snow.

Temperatures will be cooler in the lower part of the South Island throughout the week.

Rain will clear briefly on Thursday, before returning in time for the weekend.

Tomorrow's forecast:

• Whangarei: Rain to showers as strong northerly changes southerly. High 17C Low 9C

• Auckland: Rain to showers as strong northerly changes southerly. High 15C Low 8C

• Hamilton: Rain to showers evening as strong northerly changes southerly. High 14C Low 3C

• Tauranga: Rain to showers evening as fresh northerly changes southerly. High 15C Low 5C

• Wellington: Rain easing to showers evening. Strong northerly eases morning. High 14C Low 5C

• Christchurch: Showers, clearing in the afternoon. Southwesterlies. High 10C Low -2C

Wednesday's forecast:

• Whangarei: Mainly fine, odd evening shower. Southwest eases. High 16C Low 9C

• Auckland: Mainly fine, some evening cloud. Southwest eases. High 15C Low 7C

• Hamilton: Fine with light winds. High 16C Low 2C

• Tauranga: Becoming fine in the morning. Southeast breeze. High 16C Low 5C

• Wellington: Odd shower around midday with strong southerly change. High 12C Low 5C

• Christchurch: Mainly fine. Change afternoon shower with southerly. High 11C Low 0C

Source: MetService

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