Possible severe weather replaces the sunny, settled weather today, with MetService issuing severe weather watches for heavy rain in Tauranga and severe thunderstorms in other parts of the country.

The northern and eastern areas of both of New Zealand's islands are in for a damp weekend, while the southern areas of the South Island are the place to be for good weather.

In Tauranga today, MetService is forecasting a day with increasing clouds, with rain developing around midday.

'Heavy falls possible. Southerlies turning easterly this morning,” says a MetService spokesperson.

On Saturday, June 17, MetService is forecasting showers with southeasterlies.

A heavy rain watch remains in place in the city from 11am Friday, June 16 to noon Saturday, June 17.

'After a week of sunshine and frosty mornings, the settled weather comes to an end as a front and associated low reaches the upper North Island tonight. This system brings a potential for heavy falls of rain to Northland where a Heavy Rain Watch is in effect.

'A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has also been issued for Northland and Great Barrier Island from later this evening, detailing a risk of localised downpours, strong winds and possible tornadoes.”

'Northland is likely in the firing line starting this evening, until at least late tomorrow morning as the front tracks south. We expect the front to reach Auckland early Friday morning, when a Heavy Rain Watch comes into effect from Whangaparaoa northwards,” says MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon.

'The risk of heavy rain spreads to Coromandel Friday afternoon, when cloudy and wetter weather starts to affect many other parts of the North Island, as the system is forecast to travel eastward.

'While the areas covered by the Severe Weather Watches are the most likely to see the effects of this weather system, the location of the most impactful weather will depend on the position of the low. At this stage there is some uncertainty as to how this will play out,” says Wotherspoon.

'Showers will linger in the far north on Saturday, while more persistent and possibly heavy rainfall reaches Tairawhiti-Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. Similar conditions spread to Marlborough, Nelson, and northern Canterbury for the start of the weekend,” says the MetService spokesperson.

'Westland, Southland, and Otago on the other hand are in for a mainly dry weekend but remain chilly, while rest of the country can expect overnight temperatures to recover after this week's cold spell,” says Wotherspoon.

For the rest of the weekend, MetService is forecasting little changes into Monday, with rainy weather continuing along the east coast and more showers in the north.