"There's a band of rain stretching across Auckland and Great Barrier Island, slipping down over the Coromandel Peninsula going forward."
The overnight deluge also caused a headache for commuters travelling to work across Auckland today A slower-than-usual journey was in store for those using the Southern Motorway, and floodwaters washed across lanes near Manurewa. One northbound lane was underwater at Orams Rd.
On the bright side, the torrential rain topped up Auckland's critically low reservoir dam levels.
Watercare says as of 8am today the region's dams were 47.1 per cent full, compared to 44.8 per cent yesterday. The normal average level for this time of year is 78.53 per cent.
Fire and Emergency said they attended around 20 weather-related jobs across Auckland between 6am and 8am today.
Fire crews also helped at least two drivers caught out by floodwaters washing over the region's roads.
A police spokesperson said members of the public used a rope to pull the vehicle out of the floodwaters. Fire and Emergency services were also at the scene.
A Paeroa farmer shared a video on Twitter of flooding in paddocks, saying "We're certainly over the drought!".
In Bay of Plenty, a heavy rain warning was in place west of Edgecumbe, including the Kaimai Range, until 3pm today.
Heavy rain of up to 40mm of top of the earlier rainfall was expected, and surface flooding and slips are possible in the area.
More rain or showers are likely to hit the area tomorrow and Saturday.
Gisborne is set for another hammering, with periods of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms expected until 12pm Friday.
"Expect 120 to 180mm to accumulate about the ranges north of Gisborne City, with 70 to 100mm elsewhere," Metservice's warning said.
Thunderstorms will crackle across the skies this evening and Friday morning.
The heavy rain may lead to rapidly rising streams and rivers and slips and flooding are possible in the area.
Heavy rain is also on the cards for Hawke's Bay, where up to 140mm is expected to fall about the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges, with 70 to 90mm elsewhere.
A heavy rain warning is in place for the area until 3pm tomorrow.
Coromandel Peninsula, which was lashed with 140mm of rain in the southern ranges over the past 18 hours, will also be in line for another drenching.
Wednesday's heavy rain left a swathe of damage across the Coromandel Peninsula, where debris and slips affected many of the region's roads.
Teams were inspecting the extent of the storm's fury and concern was mounting about the swollen Kauaeranga River and the morning high tide.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council said the brunt of the storm was felt on the eastern seaboard. The rapid assessment team was now gauging the damage. There were reports of trees down and wind damage.
Parts of SH25A between Kopu and Hikuai were underwater, closing the road. The Kauaeranga Valley River Bridge at Rhodes Park in Thames was also impassable, with surface flooding at Puriri, Te Puru, Kopu east heading to Paeroa and the Karangahake Gorge.
More showers, some heavy and possibly thundery in the area on Friday is expected to cause problems in the saturated region.
In the South Island, a heavy rain watch is in place for the Tasman mountains, including the Arthur Range and Takaka Hill until 6pm Friday.
Periods of heavy rain will hit the area, and Metservice warns that rainfall may approach warning criteria - 80 to 90mm in 24 hours.
A strong wind watch is also in place for Nelson west of Motueka and Buller north of Westport until 6am Friday.
Southeasterly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.
Wet weekend ahead
Rain for much of the North Island on Saturday. In the South Island, rain in the north and developing in the west, drizzle in the east.
Mainly fine, apart from areas of cloud about Southern Lakes, Otago and Southland.
Come Sunday, the North Island will get showers in the west and north gradually clearing. Becoming fine in the east.
South Island, rain in the west gradually easing. Scattered rain elsewhere clearing afternoon or evening and becoming fine.
READ MORE:
• Weather: Heavy rain warnings and watches for the North Island, including Auckland
• NZ's cold weather explained: What's created this weekend's monster high?
• Wild Wednesday weather: Severe warnings issued for upper North Island
• Your weather: Chilly start before stunning weekend for Auckland, North Island
