Heavy rain warning for eastern North Island

It has been a wet day for much of the North Island today, with a broad slow-moving rain-band bringing rain to all areas except Northland. The wettest spots have been Bay of Plenty and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay, with over 100 mm of rainfall recorded in the ranges north of Gisborne in the 48 hours to midday Sunday. A Heavy Rain Warning is still in force for these areas, and a broader Heavy Rain Watch covers Coromandel Peninsula and Hawkes Bay.

“This slow-moving rain-band is not expected to move much over the next couple of days, but should slowly weaken tomorrow and Tuesday” said MetService Meteorologist Claire Flynn. She added, “the wet weather just keeps coming in from the northeast, and this is what is causing the high rainfall accumulations we are seeing. The warning for Bay of Plenty east of Opotiki and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay continues until 3pm Monday, while the areas on Heavy Rain Watch should ease overnight or on Monday.”

Meanwhile, much of the South Island has seen settled weather on Sunday, though those in the far north of the island can except scattered rain to develop, and low cloud or fog will affect the east coast again tonight. On Monday, the wet weather is expected to extend as far south as Christchurch in the east, and Westport in the west, before another front approaches from the south on Tuesday.

For full details on the Heavy Rain Watch and Warning, click here.

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