Mother nature is giving New Zealand one more blow before we move into spring with weather watches in place and reduced speed limits on the Harbour Bridge.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said due to strong wind gusts, reduced speed limits are in place for the Auckland Harbour Bridge and lane reductions may be required.
It is advising motorists to be cautious when crossing.
NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll told Ingrid Hipkiss on Newshub Late the country can expect another rainmaker to cross the country on Thursday but fortunately, it won't be anywhere near as bad as last week.
"Although any rainfall this week is kind of insult to injury," Noll said.
Any rain in places that have seen slips last week risks causing more, he said.
Local states of emergency were issued last week for the Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough regions following severe flooding which caused hundreds of people to evacuate their homes and extensive damage.
On Thursday into Friday morning, a front is forecasted to move eastwards over the North Island and northern South Island bringing a burst of rain to many places, which may be heavy for a time.
It has prompted MetService to issue seven weather watches across New Zealand.
Nelson-Tasman
Following a turbulent last week, MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for Tasman west of Motueka from Thursday 3pm until early Friday morning. A period of northeasterly rain and possibly heavy falls is forecasted.
Nelson is forecasted to have showers on Thursday turning to rain late afternoon, however, it is not expected to reach warning levels.
Noll said the rainfall amounts will be on the lower side but warns there is a risk of slips.
"Those areas have seen sodden grounds so even a small amount of rainfall that otherwise might not trigger an impact because of any additional rainfall you could see some of those wetter soils slipping off," he said.
Northland
A brief period of heavy rain in Northland has prompted a weather warning watch in the region on Thursday. A strong wind watch has been issued for Thursday as northeast winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
There is also a low chance of thunderstorms in Northland.
Auckland
A heavy rain watch has been placed over the Auckland region for Thursday afternoon until 7pm and there is a chance of thunderstorms embedded with the rain.
A strong wind watch has also been placed for Auckland and the Great Barrier Island on Thursday afternoon.
Heavy rain is forecasted to develop this afternoon and Noll has advised motorists to plan their evening commute.
"Auckland watch out [for] the afternoon, evening commute… It could be really quite blustery and rainy," Noll said.
Bay of Plenty
MetService is predicting possible thunderstorms for eastern Bay of Plenty on Thursday night and early Friday morning.
A heavy rain watch has been issued for between 4pm Thursday until early Friday morning with periods of heavy rain possibly approaching the warning criteria.
Taranaki
Areas around Mount Taranaki could also experience thunderstorms on Thursday night.
MetService has issued a heavy rain watch as northeasterly rain in the area may exceed the warning criteria from Thursday afternoon until early Friday morning.
Next week's weather
Noll has good news for next week's weather as a high pressure system will end the winter with settled weather conditions.
"We are looking at a big area of high pressure to end the winter season next week," Noll said. "It looks like mother nature is finally starting to loosen her grip a bit after what has been a pretty active, harsh winter in terms of wind and rain."
However, for ski fields in desperate need of a good, snowy finish to the season there will be no change in snowfall for the central plateau.
