A big low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea is set to spread a series of fronts over New Zealand, bringing widespread rain and strong winds.
MetService says heavy rain is on the way for Sunday and Monday, as heavy rain watches and a warning have been issued for parts of the North Island and the top of the South Island.
"At this stage, the most rainfall is expected in Northland where an orange heavy rain warning is now in force, while heavy rain watches are now in effect for northern and eastern parts of Auckland including Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, western Bay of Plenty, northern Taranaki and northwest Tasman," it says.
"People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made, or further areas are added."
List of watches and warnings:
- For northwest Tasman, there is moderate confidence that rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria on Monday and Tuesday, and a heavy rain watch is in force
- For Mount Taranaki, there is moderate confidence of significant heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday, and a heavy rain watch is in force.
- For Northland, there is high confidence of rainfall accumulations meeting warning criteria on Monday, and a heavy rain warning is in force
- For Auckland, there is moderate confidence of both significant heavy rain and severe east to northeast gales on Monday, especially around northern parts of the region. A heavy rain watch is in force.
- For Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne, there is moderate confidence that rainfall amounts will meet warning criteria from Monday to Wednesday
- Finally, for the remainder of Gisborne, northern Hawke's Bay, and Taupo, there is low confidence of significant heavy rain from Tuesday to Thursday
