People living near rivers and streams in the Tasman District should be prepared for a rapid rise in water levels overnight, with heavier falls forecast to continue, Civil Defence says.

New Zealanders have woken to a chilly, windy autumn morning today, as yesterday's wild weather continues to batter the country.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms, gales and snow are forecast to make the next few days miserable for just about everybody, the MetService has warned. There was also the possibility a few tornadoes could spawn from these storms.

Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough are expected to experience the strongest winds overnight, with heavy rain also expected in other areas.

Metservice warns a storm system set to reach New Zealand tomorrow has all the ingredients to create another tornado.