Heavy rain is expected to hit Auckland in the coming hours as a spell of wet weather and strong winds begin to sweep across parts of the North Island.
MetService forecasts isolated showers will become heavy for people in Auckland this afternoon and evening, with as much as 6.3mm of rainfall an hour expected around 7pm on Monday.
Auckland can expect to observe clouds and isolated showers ahead of this evening's heavy downpour.
Meanwhile, in the South Island, snow is expected on highways over the next two days as temperatures across the country see a significant drop.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) described the expected weather over the coming days as "a puff of colder air". Metservice warned people to have their "wet weather gear on hand".
MetService has issued two heavy rain watches for the South Island: in Westland north of Otira and Buller, and Tasman west of Motueka and the Brant and Richmond Ranges.
Both rain watches started at 9am and are expected to lapse by 6pm this evening.
MetService has also issued half a dozen road snowfall warnings, with upwards of 20cm of snow expected in places.
The first road snowfall warnings begin for Lindis Pass, State Highway 8, at 2pm today; the Crown Range Rd at 1pm; and the Milford Road, SH94, at 11am today.
All warnings are expected to end by 5pm on Tuesday.
A road snowfall warning for Porters Pass and Arthur's Pass, SH73, is in place from 9am until 6pm on Tuesday, and for Lewis Pass from 10am until 7pm.
