A weather forecaster is urging Kiwis in the North Island to brace themselves for more heavy rain.
It comes as a low-pressure system approaches from the northwest. It will move across northern New Zealand on Sunday before it is expected to slowly move northeast away from the North Island during Monday and Tuesday and weaken.
MetService updated its weather warnings and watches on Sunday morning and warned the eastern parts of the North Island are expected to see the worst of the weather.
The forecasting agency issued an orange heavy rain warning for 30 hours for the Ruahine Range and the inland ranges of Hawke's Bay from 10pm Sunday until 4am Tuesday.
MetService said this area should expect 120 to 150mm of rain to fall at peak rates of 15 to 20mm per hour.
"Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous," MetService said.
Heavy rain watches are also in place for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, Gisborne, Wairarapa from about Carterton northwards, the Tararua District not including the Ruahine Range and Hawke's Bay not including the inland ranges and Taranaki.
MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane had a warning for people in the North Island after a few days of constant rain.
"I think the thing for people to keep in mind is that it has been raining for a few days and even though it hasn't been very big rainfall amounts, just that persistent nature of that rain would be something to keep in mind," Makgabutlane told Newshub.
The bad weather is expected to hang around until Tuesday and early Wednesday but Makgabutlane said it should improve later in the week.
"This low-pressure system is quite a slow-moving one. So that means it tends to linger for quite a bit and because of the way it's moving and the direction of the wind around it, it's bringing in quite a lot of moisture," she said.
"As it lingers, that moisture just continues to feed onto the North Island. Into Monday and Tuesday, the bulk of that wet weather is expected over the eastern parts of the North Island... we are still seeing another wet day on Tuesday, but into Wednesday it looks like that's when things start to start to ease a little bit, maybe more showery conditions in that eastern North Island."
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Impact: Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
Area: The Ruahine Range and the inland ranges of Hawke's Bay
Period: 30hrs from 10pm Sun, 19 Nov - 4am Tue, 21 Nov
Forecast: Expect 120 to 150 mm of rain to accumulate. Peak rates of 15 to 20 mm per hour are possible.
Heavy Rain Watch
Area: Coromandel Peninsula
Period: 7hrs from 9am - 4pm Sun, 19 Nov
Forecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the ranges.
Area: Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane
Period: 13hrs from 9am - 10pm Sun, 19 Nov
Forecast: A period of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about higher ground.
Area: Tairawhiti/Gisborne
Period: 38hrs from 10pm Sun, 19 Nov - noon Tue, 21 Nov
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Accumulations may approach warning criteria.
Area: Wairarapa from about Carterton northwards, the Tararua District not including the Ruahine Range and Hawke's Bay not including the inland ranges
Period: 30hrs from 10pm Sun, 19 Nov - 4am Tue, 21 Nov
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, especially about higher ground. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning criteria. The rain may ease in the south earlier.
Area: Taranaki
Period: 25hrs from 9am Sun, 19 Nov - 10am Mon, 20 Nov
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria. Note: Watch period extended to later Monday morning.
