Parts of the North Island is in for a rainy afternoon likely filled with thunderstorms as wild weather hits the country.
Heavy showers and severe thunderstorms warnings have been issued by MetService in Hawke's Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa from 1pm on Wednesday afternoon and will be put in place until 5pm.
MetService said the severe thunderstorms could produce downpours of 25 to 40 mm/hr and large accumulations of hail.
"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Large accumulations of hail may cause damage to some crops," MetService warned.
On Thursday, a heavy rain watch has been put in place for the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty west of Tauranga.
The rain watch will be in place from 6pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday.
A front over the North Island is moving to the east, along with a complex trough from central New Zealand and the Tasman Sea, MetService said.
The trough is expected to move over the country on Wednesday night and through to Thursday as a low approaches the upper North Island from the northeast.
The low will likely bring heavy rainfall to eastern and northern parts of the country.
MetService has also put a heavy rain warning in place for Gisborne from 4pm on Thursday until 3pm on Friday.
