Parts of New Zealand will be walloped by a slow-moving rain flow over the next day, with warnings of potential flooding and slips.
It comes ahead of a wintry change on Sunday, with some regions likely to see temperatures tumble more than 10C
Metservice has issued several Heavy Rain Watches and Warnings for the next 24 hours as a "deepening low" slowly pushes across the Tasman Sea. That will reach central and northern parts of the country from late Wednesday before moving to the east on Thursday.
Up to 150mm of rain is expected in Tasman west of Motueka, where a warning has been issued from between 10am on Wednesday and 1pm on Thursday.
"Rainfall at this level, in this specific part of the South Island, has a high chance of causing slips and a moderate to high risk of localised flooding, especially on the Takaka side," Weatherwatch says.
Further north, those around Mt Taranaki are warned of heavy rain up to 120mm between 10pm on Wednesday and 1pm on Thursday. A Strong Wind Watch says north to northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
In Northland, a Metservice warning for between 10pm on Wednesday and 7am Thursday says up to 90mm of rain may accumulate, with downpours of 25 to 40mm/h for one or two hours. There's also a Strong Wind Watch in place here for between 9pm on Wednesday and 9am Thursday.
Finally, between 9am and 6pm on Thursday, the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty are warned to expect up to 90mm of rain with downfalls expected to be heavy in the afternoon. Bay of Plenty Civil Defence sent a tweet on Wednesday morning warning of the "nasty weather", including rain and strong wind on the coast.
All four areas are told the heavy rain "may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly".
"Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous."
A number of other regions, including Auckland, Waikato, and the Coromandel Peninsula are told to watch for heavy rain.
The wild wet weather comes ahead of a wintry change.
Weatherwatch says subtropical northerlies will keep temperatures up on Wednesday and Thursday while "windy westerlies" will push temperatures to 20C in the east on Friday and Saturday.
But the chilly weather will then arrive at the lower South Island on Sunday and nationwide on Monday.
"It's not a major winter event but will bring more snow to the hills and ranges of the South Island and temperature drops for the entire nation – most noticeably in Southland, Otago and Canterbury where daytime highs may tumble over 10C from where they will be in the coming days," Weatherwatch says.
"Some parts of Otago may be over 10C colder by Sunday than they will be on Friday."
