Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for parts of northern New Zealand on Wednesday as a front moves on to the country.
On Tuesday night, MetService put heavy rain watches in place for Auckland, Coromandel, eastern Northland and Bay of Plenty, and also issued a strong wind watch for parts of Auckland.
Those regions could expect periods of heavy rain on Wednesday, while easterly winds in Auckland could become gale force.
Eastern parts of the South Island could also expect some rain on Wednesday, although no warnings were in place at this stage.
"Unsettled weather is forecast to affect New Zealand… as several troughs move from the Tasman Sea onto the country bringing northerly rain," MetService said in its severe weather outlook.
The forecaster said the eastern Bay of Plenty could see significant heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.
"Over the South Island, there is moderate confidence of significant heavy rain over Westland and parts of Buller and [the] Tasman Sea on Thursday and Friday, and low confidence over a larger area from Fiordland to Nelson from Thursday to Sunday."
Forecast overview for Wednesday
- Lower South Island: Cloudy day with developing winds - highs of 14C in Dunedin and 12C in Oamaru
- West Coast: Cloudy and wind developing in the afternoon - Milford Sound 19C and Westport 20C
- Canterbury and Marlborough: Cloud and light rain - Christchurch 14C and Blenheim 15C
- Lower North Island: Fine day after morning showers - Wellington 16C and Palmerston North 17C
- Central North Island: Cloudy day with fresh winds - Whanganui 21C and Taupō 16C
- East Coast: Heavy rain watch in place - Rotorua 18C and Tauranga 20C
- Auckland and Far North: Heavy rain and strong wind watch in place - Auckland 20C and Whangārei 19C.
