A number of heavy rain warnings are in place around the country as Tropical Cyclone Dovi approaches.
The cyclone won't bring any relief from muggy weather but the humidity should ease next week.
According to MetServices this is a significant weather event with heavy rain warnings in the Nelson/Tasman region, Kaikōura and Wellington and heavy wind warnings in Auckland.
"Take these warnings seriously and get ready before the bad weather arrives," NZ Civil Defence tweeted.
It was another hot and sticky night on Friday with temperatures in the upper North Island remaining above 23 degrees C Metservice said in a tweet.
And if the humidity is not enough to deal with a tropical cyclone is heading our way
Tropical Cyclone Dovi is northwest of New Zealand and is forecast to hit this weekend, bringing with it a deluge of rain Weatherwatch says.
Dovi will bring heavy rain and winds mainly to central New Zealand and the top of the South Island and bottom of the North Island.
The most significant rainfall is forecast by MetService to happen overnight on Saturday.
Auckland and other parts of the country is expect to have severe south-westerly gales on Sunday.
"Nail down the cat, the kids and the trampoline," MetServices says.
MetService Tweeted that Taupō Airport recorded the wettest day ever on recorded from 9am Friday to 9 am Saturday, since records began 46 years ago.
Taumarunui recorded it's 4th wettest day since records began during the same period.
Dovi is expected to make landfall in Aotearoa late Sunday night or early Monday morning somewhere in the western North Island most likely between the Waikato and Taranaki. By then it will have bene downgraded to ex-tropical cyclone.
Regardless of where it lands though, both islands should expect bad weather.
"Severe weather will occur in both islands due to the unusual shape the storm gets once it becomes ex-tropical - a process which sees the intense wind energy at the centre of the storm fan out further and break apart into sections," WeatherWatch said.
Waka Kotahi is urging people to prepare for the likelihood of road closures and to consider delaying non-essential travel in parts of the country being affected by severe weather from the cyclone.
Waka Kotahi’s National Emergency Response Team leader Mark Owen says some road closures and travel restrictions are unavoidable given the scale of the severe weather.
"Waka Kotahi is actively monitoring the situation, with maintenance crews out across the network ready to respond. Our contractors will work to re-open any closed roads as soon possible, but with heavy rain likely to bring slips down in many areas, this work will take some time to complete," Owen said.
He is urging people to check the latest conditions and avoid travelling in affected areas.
Owen says motorists in Auckland are being urged to prepare for potential disruption to the state highway network with a strong wind warning in place for Auckland from early Sunday morning.
The severe winds have the potential to force the closure of the Auckland Harbour Bridge for several hours on Sunday, potentially disrupting travel in and around the city.
"With high winds likely to affect the region throughout the day on Sunday, drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists are also encouraged to avoid the bridge and use the Western Ring on State Highways 16 and 18."
Metservice has issued several weather warnings across the country. A wind watch is in place for the upper North Island from Saturday night to Sunday night.
The forecaster says severe winds are possible until Sunday night. Taranaki, where Cyclone Dovi is expected to hit, has a heavy rain warning in place from midday today until Sunday.
While western areas of the North Island including Waitomo, Taumarunui, southern parts of Taupō, Taihape, Whanganui and Manawatu have a heavy rain watch in place.
Tongariro National Park also has a heavy rain warning along with Wellington and areas of the Wairarapa. Horowhenua and Kāpiti can also expect downpours.
The South Island won't get off scot-free with a wind watch in place for Tasman and Buller until Sunday night.
A heavy rain watch is also in place for Marlborough excluding the Sounds, and Canterbury north of Waipara.
The good news is once Dovi passes the humidity levels particularly across the North Island will ease, bringing much-needed nighttime relief for many Weatherwatch says.
Aide from some residue from Dovi next week is looking more settled as we head towards the end of summer.
