Covering period of Thu 26 - Sun 29 March

• Heavy rain and strong winds continue to feed across New Zealand.
• A Red Heavy Rain Warning remains in place for eastern Northland into the early hours of Friday morning.
• Additionally, Severe Weather Warnings and watches are in place for other regions including the rest of Northland and across to the Bay of Plenty and the top of the South Island.
• The heaviest rain has been in eastern Northland where rainfall exceeded 200mm in the wettest parts of the region over the last 24 hours

A very wet and windy night has affected the top of the North Island, with over 200mm of rain recorded near Kerikeri. Strong northeasterly winds are also producing large waves on exposed northern and western coasts.

A Red Severe Weather Warning remains in force for parts of Northland, with heavy rain expected to continue through today and into Friday morning. Intense downpours and thunderstorms are possible before the rain gradually clears.

Red Warnings are the highest level issued by MetService, highlighting the risk of dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips, widespread travel disruption, and possible community isolation.

Severe Weather Warnings for rain and wind also cover Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. In the South Island, heavy rain driven in by strong northerly winds continues for Tasman, Marlborough, Westland Ranges, North Otago and eastern Canterbury south of Timaru.

Strong northeasterly winds may bring gusts up to 120km/h in exposed parts of the central North Island, Whanganui and Taranaki, with Strong Wind Watches also in place for Buller, coastal Westland, Banks Peninsula and coastal Dunedin.

“We’ve already seen significant impacts across Northland, and there is still more wind and rain to come,” says MetService Meteorologist John Law. “People should keep up with the latest forecasts and advice from local emergency management teams.”

Conditions ease briefly on Saturday, but another bout of wet and windy weather is expected on Sunday as a new system crosses the Tasman Sea.

Latest warnings and forecasts: www.metservice.com 
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