KEY POINTS:
Heavy rain will spread at speed into Northland tomorrow night and then on to Auckland and other parts of the North Island, MetService said today.
Northeast gales and heavy rain are expected to reach the far north of Northland on Saturday evening and quickly move further south on Sunday morning.
MetService said: "Heavy rainfall warnings initally cover Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.
"In all these areas rain be very heavy at times with possible thunderstorms."
Rainfall totals of 120mm in a 12-hour period are possible for parts of the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.
The heavy rainfall comes just weeks after Northland was hit by its second set of devastating floods this year.
People in the areas affected by the latest band of rain should watch for rapidly rising streams and rivers on Sunday, MetService said.
Driving conditions are likely to be hazardous with the possibility of slips and surface flooding.
Heavy falls are also expected in the South Island on Saturday with up to 120mm in the ranges of south Westland and Fiordland throughout today and tomorrow.
- NZHERALD STAFF
