The MetService has issued a severe weather watch for Northland, with heavy rain and strong winds possible this weekend.
A very cold southerly airstream is expected to spread over the South Island during Saturday, with snow lowering to low levels in many areas. At the same time a low pressure system from over the Tasman Sea is expected to move onto the North Island, bringing a period of heavy rain and strong winds to northern and central New Zealand.
The service warned of the possibility rainfalls could approach warning accumulations during Saturday in Eastern Northland, Great Barrier Island, the northern Coromandel Peninsula, parts of the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Tongariro National Park, northwest Taihape and also Nelson.
Also, strong northwesterlies over northern New Zealand are expected to turn westerly during Saturday, and there is the possibility wind could approach severe gale strength in exposed places of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Taranaki and Gisborne.
As the low moves across central New Zealand late Saturday and into Sunday, strong southerlies spread over the lower North Island, a strong wind warning is in force for severe southerly gales from Saturday evening to Sunday morning.