Rain continues to fall over much of the North Island this morning. Some areas are seeing a bit of a break in the rain, but more is on the way.

Heavy rain warnings continue for the Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty.  Periods of rain are likely to persist for much of today across these areas.  The heaviest should fall between now and this evening with rainfall rates approaching 15mm/hr. Government forecaster MetService feels rates to 20mm/hr are possible.

For the rest of the North Island, some heavy rain has already fallen across parts of Waikato, the Central Plateau, East Cape/Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. More heavy rain is likely this morning and this afternoon, but it’s not likely to be enough to prompt additional warnings from MetService.

Rain will persist for rest of the NI as well, but heavy rain is not likely.

The far upper regions of the South Island are getting wet this morning as well. The precipitation is very light, but will likely increase as the day wears one. Heavy rain is not exepcted. The rain should move south fron Nelson and Marlborough into northern Canterbury late this afternoon. Light precipitation will then continue into tonight and could reach Christchurch by morning. It will likely not migrate much further south before heading out to sea.

Homepage image/ Zelda Wynn

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph