Auckland is no stranger to rain and showers, many days in winter see precipitation at some point, but the wet weather in the city today seems more like Fiordland in intensity and duration.

With Auckland City being so narrow and surrounded by two different bodies of water (Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean) most rain bands and showers zip through.  However today the rain is slow moving and the rain clouds are still growing over northern New Zealand thanks to a northerly air flow – basically tapping into the sub-tropics to fuel these rain clouds.

Light rain this morning has steadily become heavier and more widespread – and around lunchtime (including as we publish this story) there are torrential downpours (‘torrential’ is one notch up from ‘heavy’) and surface flooding has been reported, especially around West Auckland.

Motorways have surface water heavy enough for NZTA to warn about on overhead signs.  Visibility for motorists is dropping to near zero in the most intense downpours.

When will it ease?
The heaviest rain actually indicates the wet day in Auckland is gradually winding down.  Expect patchy rain this afternoon with heaviest falls easing after 3pm and more drizzly lighter rain replacing it – then easing to dry spells towards the evening.

However it’s so humid (100% humidity in Auckland) that more rain may simply form over the city – and heavy showers may still come in behind the front.  Conditions ease properly overnight. 

The next sub-tropical event in Auckland will be Sunday and Monday AM, but it’s too far out to know if it will be equally as wet.  The set up will be similar however.

Image / Lunchtime Rain map (from our Maps tab) for Auckland and Waikato shows an intense band of rain over Auckland City / Weathermap.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz