Wild, wet weather forecast to drag on

MetService issued heavy rain and severe gale warnings for many areas. Photo / Richard Robinson

The wild weather that has battered many parts of the country since Sunday is expected to return today.

"This weather system will have quite a bit of a punch to it, and it will linger across central and northern New Zealand for several days," said meteorologist Daniel Corbett.

MetService issued heavy rain and severe gale warnings for Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and the top of the South Island yesterday.

Heavy rain lashed most of the country - the Coromandel was battered by more than 100mm in 24 hours - and emergency services received several reports of trees falling as a result of high winds in Auckland.

About 200 Glen Eden properties in the west of the city were without power after a tree fell on power lines.

The active cold front that brought the thunderstorms yesterday could bring thunderstorms across the northern half of the North Island this afternoon.

Heavy rain that hit the Coromandel Peninsula and the Kaimai Ranges placed renewed pressure on the Kauaeranga, Ohinemuri, Piako, Waitoa and Waihou rivers, which were already swollen.

The rain that spread across the east coast of the South Island late yesterday is expected to remain until tomorrow.

"The tight pressure gradient around this slow-moving low will also bring the risk of strong to severe gales, mostly in the far south," MetService said.

"Rain is expected to fall as snow above 1000m in the South Island, which will be welcomed by ski fields but could prove challenging for Canterbury high-country farmers and higher route travellers."

It will be a wet week for most of the country, with another round of heavy rain expected to hit Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Nelson and Waitaki today, says WeatherWatch analyst Howard Joseph.

Heavy rainfall will again be a possibility for Auckland, the Coromandel and Marlborough tomorrow, and the Bay of Plenty and East Cape on Thursday.

The wet and wild weather will hit Hawkes Bay on Friday.

"This is all being caused by a very stubborn, very large Tasmanian low that will be in a hurry to go nowhere," Mr Joseph said.

"It's likely this same low will affect our weather for at least the next eight days."

- Staff reporter