Rain across much of the North Island may spoil some weekend plans on Saturday Photo: 123RF
It's an indoors day for much of the North Island, with heavy downpours expected in many areas and two orange warnings in place.
MetService warned all larger North Island towns and cities they would likely get rain on Saturday.
The meteorological agency issued orange Heavy Rain Warnings for the Kāpiti Coast, Horowhenua and the Tararua Range, as well as Tongariro National Park and Kaimanawa Forest park (more details below).
And heavy rain watches were issued for:
- Waikato south of Te Awamutu, Waitomo, Taumarunui, and Taupō, until 1pm Saturday
- The Bay of Plenty ranges east of Ōpōtiki until 12am Sunday
- Wairarapa north of Carterton until noon Saturday
- Northern Taranaki (including the maunga ) until noon Saturday
- Manawatū until 2pm Saturday
By late morning Saturday heavy rain warnings for Nelson and Taranaki had been cancelled and a Heavy Rain Watch for Wellington and southern Wairarapa was lifted.
Orange heavy rain warnings for Kāpiti, Horowhenua, Tararuas, Tongariro and Kaimanawas
Those in Kāpiti, Horowhenua and the Tararuas could expect up to 30 mm of rain until noon on Saturday, on top of what had already fallen, with peak rates of 10 to 15 mm/h.
In the central North Island Tongariro National Park and Kaimanawa Forest Park MetService said up to 50mm of rain could fall at up to 15mm/h, on top of earlier amounts.
These amounts could create dangerous driving conditions, slips, surface flooding and streams and rivers could rise suddenly.
Weekend weather for the South Island
Most of the South Island was expected to be cloudy through Saturday, although Queenstown displayed the country's only sun on the forecaster's panels.
A strong wind watch was issued for coastal Southland including the Clutha area and Stewart Island, with the warning that westerly winds could near severe gale strengths in exposed places.