UPDATED

A few thunderstorms are tonight showing up on the Lightning Tracker at WeatherWatch.co.nz across parts of Northland.  Isolated heavy showers are likely from Auckland northwards as the centre of the low pressure system moves closer to land. 

Heavy rain and gusty winds have affected a number of North Island regions today as the sub-tropical low rapidly deepened and moved towards New Zealand.

15 wind and rain warnings have been issued by MetService and they extend the entire length of the North Island.

Click here to see all current rain and wind warnings.

As of 8:15pm the bulk of the heavy rain lies from Coromandel Peninsula to the bottom of the North Island and into Farewell Spit.

The rain and strong winds combined are expected to continue making driving difficult in exposed places.

Tomorrow will see the strongest winds, mostly across the lower North Island and particularly just west of the Tararua Ranges.

The air pressure has today fallen like a stone across northern New Zealand indicating that the low is quickly forming and creating unstable weather conditions.