Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

TODAY’S WARNINGS

With the northerly quarter airflow over the country today western regions can expect rain with heavy falls. Bay Of Plenty and East Cape especially has heavy rain for the North Island. The South Island sees areas of heavy rain along the West Coast from Tasman to Fiordland.

You can see more on today’s watches and warnings here.

WARM TEMPERATURES

Thanks to the northerly airflow over us we can expect warm temperatures, most regions see temperatures above normal compared to the statistical average for this time of year.

The below map is a departure from normal map, most are in the region of 4 to 8 degrees warmer than normal (red), elsewhere is 2 to 4 degrees above normal.

HEAVY RAIN FOR THE UPPER NORTH ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY

A front intensifies for the upper North Island from Wednesday afternoon, dependent on where a front lies is where the heaviest rain will be. In the rainfall map below this looks to be about western parts of the upper North Island but there is the chance it may propagate a little further eastwards.

There is the potential for some very heavy rain and thunderstorms with this front. Despite upper air temperatures being quite warm, lower level moisture is high which helps aid potential instability and heavy falls.