MetService has issued a Severe Weather Watch on Tuesday morning.

“A passing trough is expected to bring bursts of heavy rain to Tairawhiti/Gisborne tonight and tomorrow morning,” says a MetService spokesperson.

A Heavy Rain Watch is now in place for the Gisborne/Tairawhiti area, which is valid for 12 hours from 9pm Tuesday, December 5 to 9am Wednesday, December 6.

“Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria, especially north of Gisborne city.”

Slow-moving thunderstorms over parts of Northland and northern Auckland - north of the city - may produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour this afternoon and early evening.

Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. People in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor for possible Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.

For information on preparing for and keeping safe during a storm, see the Civil Defence Get Ready website

Thursday, December 7 2023
A southwesterly flow should cover the country on Thursday, with a weak front moving over the North Island. No severe weather is expected over New Zealand on Thursday.

Friday, December 8 2023
A ridge of high pressure should spread over New Zealand on Friday. No severe weather is expected over the country on Friday.

Saturday, December 9 2023
A cold front is expected to move onto the South Island during Saturday bringing rain to western and southern South Island areas. A strong northwest flow precedes the front, and a lighter southerly flow follows it.
There is moderate confidence that northwesterly rain will reach warning criteria about Westland, northern and central Fiordland, and the Canterbury and Otago headwaters near the main divide. There is low confidence of warnable rainfall elsewhere from the Paparoa Range to southern Fiordland.

There is also low confidence that a combination of northwest and southerly rain may reach warning criteria about Southland, and also southern and western parts of Otago.
There is low confidence that northwest winds could reach severe gale about exposed parts of Fiordland and Southland, including Stewart Island.

Sunday, December 10 2023
The front moves northwards over the northern South Island and southern North Island on Sunday.
There is moderate confidence that the warning amounts of rain about Westland and the Canterbury High Country near the main divide will continue into Sunday morning.

There is low confidence of warnable rainfall amounts about Buller and western parts of Tasman.
There is also low confidence that northwest winds could reach severe gale about exposed parts of northern Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and the Tararua District.