A number of lows and associated fronts are forecast to stick around today, continuing to bring rain for most of  the North Island.

MetService meteorologist Dom Barry says warning amounts of heavy rain were forecast for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Gisborne City on Monday.

Heavy rain watches were also in place for Coromandel Peninsula and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti about and south of Gisborne City and Hawke's Bay north of Napier.

“The heavy rain eases in these areas into today, but showers remain, some of which could be heavy in Hawke’s Bay. Meanwhile, the low moves to the northeast of the South Island, bringing periods of rain for the likes of Blenheim, Kaikōura, and eventually north Canterbury by the end of the day.

“At the same time, strong wind watches for coastal Marlborough north of Clarence, the Marlborough Sounds, and Wellington came into force over night, with severe southerly gales expected in Cook Strait.” 

Heading into Wednesday, MetService is forecasting winds to pick up over the north of the North Island briefly.

A classically El Niño, southwesterly flow then forms over the remainder of the country behind this ridge, sending showery weather up the western coasts and onto Northland through to Thursday.

It remains mainly dry for the likes of Southland, Otago and Gisborne at this time, as the complex low pressure system finally moves away into the Pacific. 

Temperatures, whilst remaining average for this time of year, will feel cooler than what we have experienced in the first week of spring, with single digits expected overnight for most of the country. 

A front turns up Friday and moves up the West Coast, creating a wet and gloomy day for them. 

A ridge bringing better weather is on the horizon – but we have to wait until the end of the weekend for light at the end of the tunnel – and hopefully some outside days for the second week of the school holidays.