Tropical weather will today spread across more of the North Island as ex-tropical cyclone Rene moves closer.

Last night the storm could clearly be seen north of New Zealand with the iconic cyclone ‘swirl’.

While the depression, which at its height was severe category 4 tropical cyclone, has weakened significantly it isn’t likely to weaken any further.

Rene will move north east of the North Island several hundred kilometres offshore from Northland and East Cape.  It will help bring more humidity to the north.

MetService says the there is a chance rain could become heavy enough to prompt rain warnings in East Cape although they only have low confidence that the storm will drift close enough to bring in the substantial tropical rain.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the very high humidity, patchy rain and overall tropical conditions could be quite helpful for Northland farmers.  Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says again rainfall won’t be a drought breaker but it will be helpful.  “We may just see enough moisture and warmth to really trigger some good solid grass growth”.

Mr Duncan says a large high is moving in and any rain or cloud moving in from Rene or the low in the Tasman Sea will be quickly cleared away.  “We’re in a for a sunny, settled, weekend almost everywhere”.