Weather: Heavy rain warnings in place

Rain radar. Photo / MetService

Heavy showers are expected to soak parts of the country tonight but should clear by the morning.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for Fiordland and Westland in the South Island, where downpours are expected throughout the night.

A gale warning is also in place for Milford.

Meanwhile in the North Island, many regions saw a day of rainfall and cooler temperatures today.

Northland saw the highest levels of rainfall, recording 68ml at a Metservice station. In Auckland, 14ml was recorded as rain persisted throughout the day. That rain should clear over night and a fine spells are expected tomorrow.

Rain also affected the Coromandel and parts of the Eastern Bay of Plenty today and should ease through the tonight.

MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said the rain was brought on by a front running along the east of the North Island.

"That has been bringing a fair bit more precipitation than we were expecting. We have been seeing that this afternoon," he said.

"It is really Northland that has accumulated the most substantial accumulations of rain."

Doolin said periods of rain were expected to stick around in parts of the South Island tomorrow.

"That is basically going to track with the motion of the cold front that is slowly making its way up the South Island tomorrow."

Main centres tomorrow

Kaitaia

Chance of heavy showers and thunder were expected today. Light winds and a high of 14C overnight.

Tomorrow: Fine spells, chance of showers and light winds are expected.

Auckland

Periods of rain and light winds hit Auckland today.

Tomorrow: Fine spells with a chance of showers are predicted. Possible light winds and a high of 23C.

Hamilton

Today Hamilton saw cloudy periods and chance showers coupled with light winds.

Tomorrow: Fine spells and light winds are expected.

Tauranga

Periods of rain and light winds hit Tauranga today.

Tomorrow: Showers could become heavy but should ease in the afternoon.

Napier

Occasional showers and easterlies tonight.

Tomorrow: The sun is out and a high of 25C is expected.

Wellington

Cloudy periods with the odd shower in the north today and light winds.

Tomorrow: Cloudy periods and odd showers stick around, coupled with a strengthening northerly.

Christchurch

The sun was out today, warming up Christchurch to a balmy 19C.

Tomorrow: Looks to be fine again but a gusty northerly.

Dunedin

Sunny with northerly winds today and a high of 20C.

Tomorrow: Cloud is expected to increase and rain could set in at night.

-Metservice