North Island

WeatherWatch.co.nz is reporting that a new low may bring more rain, wind and milder winter temperatures to the North Island later this coming week.

The low, which GFS computer models predict will develop on Tuesday, also predict it will cross the North Island on Friday.

Thunderstorms have been triggered this afternoon by a large low slowly moving into the North Island.

Heavy rain is currently moving in to Coromandel Peninsula and thunderstorms are tracking down the eastern coastline of Northland towards Coromandel.

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Below: MetService thunderstorm risk for this afternoon/evening:

It's been a warm day in the Bay of Plenty as clear skies and light winds saw temperatures climb to 18 degrees.  It's the second time in just over a week that the region has reached the 18 degree mark in what is typically one of the coldest weeks of the year.

A big low is passing to the north east of the North Island this week but it's likely to only brush north eastern regions with no severe weather expected.

The news will come as a relief to farmers who dealt with massive rainfall totals last week from a storm in a similar position.  Farmers spoken to by WeatherWatch.co.nz last week said the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne farmland is saturated and can't tolerate much more rain before causing damaging and costly landslides.

It's a cold day along the North Island's east coast with cloudy skies however conditions are finally improving after a week of stormy weather.

A large high, that brought frosts up into northern New Zealand, is this weekend pushing east, and with it, pushing last weeks storm well out into the Pacific Ocean.

The Department of Conservation doubts there is anything malicious behind the death of a dolphin thought to be crowd-pleaser Moko.

A bottle nose dolphin carcass has been found on the shore of Matakana Island at Mt Maunganui. It is believed the animal died a few weeks ago, the same length of time Moko has been absent from the area.

Long range computer models are predicting two lows next week, yet another sub-tropical low at the start of next week and a larger low in the southern Tasman Sea.

Latest computer models show the sub-tropical low, which would be one of several this winter from the north, should be far enough east to miss New Zealand, however those in East Cape should be aware of it following this weeks torrential rain.

But WeatherWatch.co.nz says the main concern will be from a large low predicted to move into the Tasman Sea around Wednesday next week, possibly bringing heavy rain to the west coast, thunderstorms and a wintry blast afterwards.

Rough weather is again going to affect the North Island today with rain warnings still in effect for east coasters.

The low responsible for the wet weather is very slowly drifting down the east coast and today that heavy rain will shift into southern Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

Rain and wind warnings are in force over the North Island as we head into Tuesday afternoon.

Heavy rain continues to pour down across the eastern North Island.  MetService has rain warnings out for Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.  A further 150mm is predicted for Gisborne, 120mm of Hawkes Bay and 100mm for Wairarapa.

A low which is still rapidly deepening and developing is this morning closing in on northern New Zealand bringing with it heavy rain and gale force winds.

Rain warnings are in force for northern regions of the North Island ahead of the heavy rain.