Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms are forecast to batter the upper North Island yet again, bringing a risk of further slips and flooding in the Coromandel.
The downpours are expected to continue in the Bay of Plenty region, which saw evacuations and landslips on Wednesday, while parts of Auckland and Northland are in for more rainfall.
It comes as Auckland continues a major cleanup after the region was hit by deadly floods.
The west of the South Island is also expected to be lashed with rain.
North Island
Heavy showers are approaching Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato bringing a low to moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain up to 25mm per hour.
MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato from 2pm Thursday until 10pm Friday.
"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain," MetService said.
MetService is also expecting heavy showers in many North Island regions.
A humid northeast flow over the North Island is expected to bring more rain to some northern regions with parts of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty in for more rain until Friday morning.
"There is some uncertainty with the amounts of rain that could accumulate, and this Watch is for the possibility that even though rain amounts may not reach warning criteria it will still cause issues due to the recent heavy rain," MetService said.
An orange heavy rain warning is in force for the Bay of Plenty west of about Kawerau, this includes the Rotorua Lakes District, Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City until 8am Friday. Rain with heavy falls is expected in the area with up to 90mm of rainfall could accumulate.
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Eastern Northland south of the Bay of Islands from 10pm Thursday until 10am Friday.
Auckland is in for another lashing of rain with eastern areas, except for the Hunua Ranges, under a heavy rain watch until 11am Friday.
"Total rainfall accumulations could approach the current lower warning criteria for Auckland of 50mm in 12 hours," MetService said.
Coromandel Peninsula is also in for another pummeling after relentless rain caused havoc in the region on Wednesday.
A heavy rain watch has been issued for the Hunua Ranges and Coromandel Peninsula from noon Thursday until Friday morning.
"Periods of heavy showers or rain are possible. Total rainfall accumulations (around 30 to 50 mm) through the period would not normally be sufficient to issue a watch, but due to the recent heavy rains these lesser amounts may still cause issues for the region," MetService said.
A heavy rain watch has also been issued for Bay of Plenty west of about Kawerau, this includes the Rotorua Lakes District, Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City - which were previously under a red heavy rain warning - until 8am Friday.
Taranaki is also under a heavy rain watch until 3pm Friday.
South Island
The rain has moved south with heavy troughs expected to affect the west of the South Island through to Friday.
An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Westland south of Otira until 4pm Friday, with thunderstorms possible in the area. Around 200-300 mm of rain is expected to accumulate about the ranges.
MetService has placed a heavy rain watch for Fiordland north of George Sound until 11am Friday.
Below is MetService's latest forecast:
Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Waikato
Fine spells and isolated showers. Periods of rain developing this afternoon or evening with heavy falls possible.
Waitomo to Wellington, including the central high country, also Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa
Occasional rain or showers. Thunderstorms possible in the afternoons and evenings. Becoming fine in Gisborne tomorrow afternoon.
Nelson and Buller
Periods of rain, heavy at times, easing to a few showers tomorrow morning.
Westland, Fiordland
Periods of rain, heavy in Westland, easing to showers in Fiordland tomorrow morning.
Canterbury and Marlborough
Cloudy periods and one or two showers. Becoming fine and warm this afternoon.
Otago and Southland
Mainly fine and warm. However, scattered showers in the afternoons and evenings with a possible thunderstorm.
Chatham Islands
Long fine spells.
