Auckland is under a heavy rain watch, which is bad news for beachgoers but welcome after a dry February.
MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said on Friday the "very welcome" rain was set to sweep through the upper North Island on Sunday and Monday and Aucklanders are now feeling the effects of it.
A heavy rain watch covers Northland south of Dargaville from midday Sunday until 10am Monday.
MetService said while the rain is welcome, the "peak intensities coupled with hard, dry ground can cause water to run off and pool, meaning there is a chance of surface flooding in localised areas".
The Blackcaps vs Australia T20 international at Auckland's Eden Park has been repetedly disrupted by the rain.
Great Barrier Island is excluded from the warning.
The wet weather will then move Southeast and down to the Bay of Plenty, where a heavy rain watch will then be in place for 15 hours from 9am to midnight on Monday.
Peak intensities will be 20 to 40mm per hour, with the heaviest rain inland.
Further rain is possible on Tuesday and MetService said the heavy rain watch may be extended.
The rest of the upper North Island will face periods of rain, which may briefly be heavy and isolated thunderstorms are possible through Monday.
Short forecast
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape and Hawke's Bay will have cloudy periods, with scattered rain or showers.
Taranaki to Wellington, also Wairarapa, are mainly fine today, with cloud increasing tomorrow with isolated showers about the ranges.
Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland are mostly fine with isolated showers about Southland, eastern Otago and Banks Peninsula clearing this afternoon.
Buller and Westland are partly cloudy. Isolated showers clearing this afternoon.
Fiordland has cloudy periods, with isolated showers.
Chatham Islands has rain easing to a few showers this afternoon then clearing early tomorrow, but remaining cloudy for periods.
