Weather: Two weather systems to squeeze New Zealand; heavy rain for both ends of country

New Zealand will be squeezed between two weather systems at the end of the week, bringing strong winds and heavy showers to both ends of the country.

MetService said the strongest winds were forecast for the Far North, but the rest of Northland and Auckland are also in the firing line.

Meteorologist Alain Baillie told the Herald that New Zealand was caught in a pincer movement today.

“We’ve got a low coming down from the north which is going to bring showery conditions to the north and west of the North Island through the afternoon and evening,” he said.

Windy Wednesday! (OK, and Thursday...)

The strongest winds are forecast for the Far North, but strong easterlies also affect the rest of Northland and Auckland during Wednesday and Thursday - it doesn't have to be a severe gale to be a noticeably windy day 🍃 pic.twitter.com/sNHAuNwxzM

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 11, 2026

“We also have quite an active front moving onto the south of the South Island later in the day.”

In the North Island, Auckland, Northland, the Bay of Plenty, the Waikato and down to Taranaki will be wet from the afternoon, Baillie said.

“Central and eastern areas start pretty fine, but they will cloud over later in the day.”

On Friday, Baillie said it would be wet across most of the country when the two weather systems converge.

🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watches have been issued for Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty, and Fiordland for Thursday evening to Friday morning 🌧️

🟡 The Yellow Strong Wind Watch for the Far North has been extended to midnight tonight (Wednesday) 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/W1FPJUnAeY

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 10, 2026

Heavy rain watches issued

A heavy rain watch is forecast to come into force for the Coromandel Peninsula from 9pm until 9am tomorrow.

Another heavy rain watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty, west of Kawerau, from 10pm until noon tomorrow.

The Tasman District, about and west of Motueka, is under the alert from 6am to 9pm tomorrow, and Buller District and the ranges of the Grey District are under the alert from 4am until 6pm tomorrow.

The ranges of the Westland District are also under the same watch from midnight until 3pm tomorrow, and Fiordland west of the Lakes from 9pm to 5am.

Baillie said strong easterly winds were still forecast for the upper North Island today.

“It will be a complicated situation during the next few days. Showers for most places, especially on Friday for the upper North Island and the west of the South Island.”

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