As New Zealanders get ready to charge into 2024, wet weather across the country is dampening spirits.
MetService has multiple severe weather warnings and watches in place across the North and South Island with most passing by Saturday morning.
The wet weather is caused by "a series of fronts embedded in a humid north to northwest flow".
North Island
There is an orange heavy rain warning in place for Mount Taranaki and MetService says people there can expect a further 80-120mm on top of what has already fallen within the next 16 hours.
Thunderstorms are possible, with surface flooding and slips possible, so take care on the roads.
There are heavy rain watches in place for Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Tongariro National Park, the Kaimanawa Mountains and the Bay of Plenty including Rotorua.
These watches should wrap up by 10am Saturday but downpours of 25-40mm/h and thunderstorms are possible.
The Tararua Range outside Wellington can also expect periods of heavy rain for the rest of the day.
South Island
There are orange heavy rain warnings in place for Nelson, northwest of Motueka, and along the West Coast in the Westland ranges, South of Otira.
Nelson can expect a further 70-90mm on top of what has already fallen with thunderstorms possible.
The West Coast should watch for a further 100 to 140 mm of rain.
The worst of this rain should pass by Saturday morning, though the West Coast should expect an overnight burst of "heavy rain" overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.
Drivers in these areas are also urged to take extra caution, with surface flooding and slips possible.
There are heavy rain watches in place for the Richmond and Bryant Ranges, Buller, and Fiordland, north of Doubtful Sound.
These should also all pass by Saturday morning.
New Year's Eve
While the build-up to New Year's Eve is so far a little grim, Kiwis will be holding their breath that the big night is clear, but some parts of the country will not be so lucky.
On Sunday, MetService predicts rain spreading north across the North Island and it will be "heavy at times".
It will ease southwest of Waikato to Hawke's Bay late, hopefully just in time for the countdown.
The South Island should expect rain in the north and west with "possible heavy falls, easing".
Showers will also spread north.
