Severe weather is incoming for the top of the North Island and the bottom of the South Island.
Metservice says Northland can expect periods of heavy rain between Sunday at 5pm and 11pm on Monday.
"Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially in the northeast. Note that heavy rain could continue into Tuesday," the forecaster said in an update on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, down south, coastal parts of Southland, including Stewart Island, as well as coastal areas of Otago are likely to be buffered by west to southwest winds that may approach severe gales in exposed places at time. This is likely between 10am and 5pm on Saturday.
"A front is forecast to move north across the lower South Island this morning. Severe gale west to southwesterlies are possible behind the front along the south coast, and a Strong Wind Watch in force for coastal parts of Southland including Stewart Island, and for coastal parts of Otago about and south of the Peninsula. Heavy rain in Fiordland has eased and the Watch for heavy rain there has been lifted.
"A low to the northwest of the North Island is expected to direct a moist northeasterly flow with embedded fronts onto Northland from late Sunday. A Watch for heavy rain has been issued for Northland.
"People are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts in case any of these watches are upgraded to warnings, or other areas are added."
WeatherWatch is picking cloud and possibly a light shower for eastern regions of the North Island on Sunday, but it will be "sunnier and drier out west". Those north of Coromandel may see showers with "breezy easterlies".
"Some rain may start to appear about northern parts of Northland later in the day or overnight. The western and upper North Island is the warmest with temperatures getting into the early twenties," WeatherWatch said.
"Some parts of the West Coast are not far behind getting into the late teens. Eastern regions generally sit in the mid-teens (eastern South Island) to late teens (eastern North Island)."
