Most Kiwis are facing a wet weekend as a "broad complex low" takes hold across the country.
There's a number of severe weather warnings and watches in place with Northland to Bay of Plenty expected to bear the brunt of the rainfall from Saturday to Sunday, whilst Canterbury to Wairarapa experiences it from Sunday to Monday.
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr says the centre of the main low is expected to track southeast over central North Island during Sunday morning.
"However, the event will be well underway by then, with most of the rain in the warm northerlies east of the low centre, and sweeping over the North Island during Saturday, then on to the upper South Island early Sunday as winds there swing easterly."
During Sunday morning a front will continue to move southeastwards over northern New Zealand, while the low moves onto the west of the North Island from the Tasman Sea.
These weather systems bring with them a low risk of thunderstorms for Gisborne, Bay of Plenty and northern Waikato and a moderate risk for Northland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
MetService says "any thunderstorms that occur will likely bring heavy rain with intensities of 15 to 25mm per hour, and strong wind gusts of 80 to 100 km".
The North Island has three weather warnings in place. There's a heavy rain warning in place for Bay of Plenty from 9am Saturday to 8am Sunday, residents can expect downpours of 100 to 130mm overnight with possible thunderstorms. Rainfall may cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly as well as causing surface flooding and slips. MetService warns driving conditions may be hazardous.
A heavy rain warning is also in place for the Gisborne region north of Tolaga Bay. 100 to 150mm of rain is expected, peaking on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning. The warning is in place from 1pm Saturday and 11am Sunday. MetService warns of possible river and surface flooding and hazardous driving conditions.
Wairarapa has the North Island's final warning with a heavy rain warning in place from 11am Sunday to 11am Monday. The Tararua Range can expect 70 to 100mm or rain while the eastern hills have a likely 70 to 100mm.
There are also four watches in place for the North Island; the North and east of Northland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, the hills and ranges of central Hawkes Bay and the Tararua District have a heavy rain watch in place. A strong wind watch is also in place for Wairarapa.
The South Island has one heavy rain warning which is for the Kaikoura coast and ranges from 7am Sunday to 6pm Monday. These areas can expect a deluge of 230 to 280mm, MetService says surface flooding, slips and rapidly rising streams are possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
There's also a heavy rain watch in place for Marlborough and north Canterbury, MetService says rainfall has the potential to reach warning levels.
Northern Marlborough also has a strong wind watch in place with gusts possibly approaching severe gale in exposed places.
Those in Auckland headed to Eden Park for the Super Final should pack a raincoat as rainfall is expected towards the evening.
