Wild weather to hit Auckland, Northland, Coromandel

A severe weather watch has been issued for Auckland with heavy rain set to hit the city overnight.

Gale force winds could hit exposed parts of the upper North Island from this afternoon and early tomorrow.

Last night, MetService reported heavy rain and north westerly winds were expected to lash much of the upper North Island, including Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel.

"A trough moves southeast across the North Island overnight, bringing widespread rain, with brief heavy falls in the north," a MetService weather watch read.

A deep low is expected to approach the country today, bringing significant rain to many parts of New Zealand today and tomorrow, and also strong north westerly winds over the North Island.

Rainfall could be particularly heavy in Auckland and the Coromandel overnight, this afternoon, and early tomorrow morning; and in Northland from late morning to the early hours of tomorrow morning.

There is a possibility strong north westerly winds could approach severe gale strength in exposed parts of Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula from this afternoon to early tomorrow, MetService reported.