Summer might be closing in but Sunday will be wet and wild with heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning to lash the country.
MetService said a low-pressure system is approaching from the northwest and will move across northern New Zealand during the weekend, while slowly weakening.
This has seen the forecasting agency issue a heavy rain watch for parts of the North Island for Sunday.
A watch is in place for the Coromandel Peninsula until 4pm on Sunday with a MetService warning of a period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible.
"Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the ranges."
Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne also has a watch in place until 8pm, with MetService saying heavy rain may approach warning criteria.
Taranaki is also in the firing line with a heavy rain watch in place until 2am on Monday morning.
NIWA is also warning of a "wet Sunday", saying there is a high chance the central North Island up to southern parts of Auckland could see over 10mm of rain on Sunday.
NIWA warned there is "some chance" for lightning strikes in the upper North Island, including Auckland.
Monday and Tuesday are also forecast to be wet for parts of the North Island.
MetService said there is "moderate confidence" that heavy rain in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and eastern Taihape will require a warning on Monday and Tuesday.
"The confidence that a warning will be required for Wairarapa during this time is low. There is also low confidence that a heavy rain warning will be required for Mount Taranaki during Monday," MetService said.
The South Island is also in the firing line but not until the middle of next week, with MetService saying a "couple of fronts" are likely to affect the island on Wednesday and Thursday.
"These may bring brief heavy rain to Fiordland and Westland, and strong west to northwest winds to exposed parts of Southland and Otago," MetService said.
"However, currently confidence is very low that warnings will be required for heavy rain or strong winds."
Heavy Rain Watch
Coromandel Peninsula
Period: 17hrs from 11pm Sat, 18 Nov - 4pm Sun, 19 Nov
Forecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the ranges.
Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane
Period: 18hrs from 2am - 8pm Sun, 19 Nov
Forecast: A period of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about higher ground.
Taranaki
Period: 30hrs from 8pm Sat, 18 Nov - 2am Mon, 20 Nov
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
