Auckland to get a drenching as two rain bands hit North Island

Aucklanders face a miserable drive home from work tonight with rain poised to hit the city during rush hour.

The top of the country is set for a drenching as more wet weather saturates the North Island today.

At least two central North Island highways have been affected by heavy rain, with State Highway 1 between Bulls and Hunterville closed by flooding and SH3 north of Urenui partially blocked by a slip.

MetService has issued a weather watch across northern regions including Auckland north of the Harbour Bridge, Northland and Great Barrier Island. Rain is expected after lunch and to last until tomorrow.

The wet weather includes spells of heavy rain that could cause flash flooding and slips.

Heavy rain WATCH out 4 northern Auckland & Northland as a rain band sinks south, easing by midday 2moro. More at https://t.co/bcFLKY4OUU ^AC pic.twitter.com/KwA1gCKKIh

— MetService (@MetService) August 2, 2017

Further south, a separate slow-moving band of wet weather continued to move across the centre of the island today.

All heavy rain warnings had been lifted but not before leaving at least one major highway impassable.

A section of SH1 near Marton has flooded and the road is closed between the intersections with Calico and Wings Lines.

In Taranaki a large slip came down across SH3 north of Urenui overnight, leaving one lane blocked.

UPDATE: The road is now open to one lane under a stop/go ^MNhttps://t.co/QJqmqtZWiI

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) August 1, 2017

The rain was expected to move to the east tomorrow as a high sitting over the South Island spreads north.

Today's forecast:

Auckland: Showers turning to rain, evening heavy falls north of the bridge. Strengthening northeast winds. 15C
Hamilton: Occasional rain. Northeasterly winds turning southeast today. 13C
Tauranga: Occasional rain. Southeasterly winds strengthening today. 14C
Wellington: Mostly cloudy with showers. Southerlies strengthening after lunch. 10C
Christchurch: Mostly cloudy, showers. Southerly winds. 10C
Dunedin: Cloudy with showers clearing after lunch. Light winds. 8C