Your weather: Rain, rain, and showers ahead for NZ

There will barely be a dry patch over the country today and tomorrow as several weather systems battle it out.

It is bad news for Ed Sheeran concert-goers at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland tomorrow night, when rain and potentially heavy falls forecast through to the evening.

The Black Caps will also be watching the rain radar closely after making a strong start on the first day their test match against England at Eden park yesterday.

They will be hoping the rain holds off today and into the weekend after they bowled the tourists out for 58 in their first innings - England's lowest total against New Zealand.

The rain is forecast to ease to showers in Auckland on Sunday.

A southerly front that has been slowly moving up the country since Monday is hovering over central New Zealand, bringing heavy rain to the Nelson and Buller regions, MetService meteorologist Matthew Ford said.

In the past 24 hours, Nelson Airport recorded 82mm of rain - most of which fell yesterday morning. There have been reports of surface flooding from the downpours.

Heavy rain warnings remain in Nelson and Buller through to 6am tomorrow, with up to 160mm of rain forecast.

The heaviest falls are expected from this afternoon until Saturday morning, and hourly rates may reach 20 to 30mm.

A trough remains close to Taranaki as well, and periods of heavy rain are forecast from this evening through tomorrow. A severe weather watch is in place.

"Those are the places to keep an eye on," Ford said.

Much of the South Island will experience showers and some rain today and into the weekend. The North Island is also in for a showery day today, with heavy falls in the northern regions.

"The upper North Island is most in the firing line, from Northland down to northern Waikato. There is also a chance of thunderstorms with the northeast flow."

Kerikeri recorded a downpour of 13mm in an hour this morning.

"That was quite a heavy shower, but fits the trend for the day up there. There may be more isolated falls like that with thunderstorms."

The lower North Island has also had some heavy rain over the past 24 hours, with 62mm recorded in the Rimutaka Ranges north of Wellington.

Rain there should clear this morning as southerlies give way to northerlies this evening.

Over the weekend the front over central New Zealand is forecast to shift east, bringing periods of rain to most of the country.

"The weather is not totally settled, and during the course of the weekend most places will get rain," Ford said.

"However, the lower South Island won't be too bad with fine spells forecast."

By Sunday night the front will be lying across the upper and eastern North Island, a ridge will have formed to the east of the country and a northwest flow over the South Island.

Over the past few days the southerly front brought a lot of cool air with it, dropping temperatures across the South Island to winter levels.

Pukaki recorded a low last night of 1C and Manapouri 0C, and there was snow down to 900m in places.

The Crown Range recorded 1-2cm, and Cardrona skifield also reported snowfall.

Cardrona spokeswoman Jen Houltham said that by 10am yesterday, 5cm-10cm of snow had settled and "isn't showing signs of letting up!"

Coronet Peak and The Remarkables also woke up to a blanketing of snow.

Coronet Peak had 14cms at the base building with more up top. While The Remarkables recorded a snowfall of 13cms at the base building.

Today's weather

Whangarei

A few showers, chance heavy and thundery from afternoon. Northeast breezes. 23C high,15C overnight.

Auckland A few showers developing morning, chance heavy and thundery from afternoon. Northeasterlies. 22C high, 16C overnight.

Hamilton A few showers developing morning, chance heavy until evening. Northeasterlies. 22C high, 14C overnight.

Tauranga A few showers, chance heavy from afternoon. Northeasterlies. 22C high, 16C overnight.

New Plymouth Occasional rain, heavy and possibly thundery from afternoon. Northeasterlies. 21C high,
15C overnight.

Napier Cloudy periods, and chance morning showers. Northeasterlies. 22C high, 13C overnight.

Wellington​ Morning rain clearing to fine spells. Southerlies, turning northerly evening. 16C high, 14C overnight.

Nelson​ Rain, with possibly heavy falls. Northeasterlies. 19C high, 14C overnight.

Christchurch​ Mostly cloudy. A few showers from late morning. Light winds. 13C high, 10C overnight.

Dunedin​ Mainly fine, but cloud morning and evening. Northeasterly developing afternoon. 15C high, 12C overnight.