KEY POINTS:
Civil Defence is telling people to stay home and batten down the hatches this weekend.
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for northern New Zealand for tonight and Saturday.
Civil Defence regional emergency management controller Harry O'Rourke says people should exercise caution if they do need to
go out. He says they should check conditions, keep their headlights on and keep a safe distance from the car in front.
Mr O'Rourke says people should clear drains and spouting, secure rubbish bins, trampolines and anything else that could fly off in strong winds.
He also advises people to have a torch, radio and spare batteries at hand.
MetService says a deepening low will bring heavy rains and easterly gales to northern and central New Zealand. It will impact Northland from this evening and Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula from tomorrow morning.
The western Bay of Plenty and northern Waikato will be hit from Saturday afternoon.
MetService predicts 100 to 150 millimetres of rain in parts of Northland and Auckland in a 24 hour period from 6pm.
Coromandel Peninsula should expect the biggest deluge, with 250 millimetres possible near the ranges.
Gale force winds with gusts of 120 kilometres an hour are forecast for Auckland, inland Waikato and also the Firth of Thames from the early hours of Saturday to the afternoon.
MetService says winds this strong could damage trees, powerlines and insecure roofs. It is advising boat owners to check their moorings.
Weatherwatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan says it is not common for Auckland to get such a heavy rain warning.
"While Auckland gets the odd rain warning they aren't as common as say Northland or Bay of Plenty. With strong winds blowing leaves off trees combined with torrential rain there';s definitely the potential for serious surface flooding across roads and properties."
Mr Duncan says conditions out at sea are likely to be very rough with low visibility on Saturday around Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty with gales likely and large swells developing.
"There are a number of marine events happening this weekend and we're seriously advising boaties to be aware of current gale warnings. Saturday is especially looking nasty with strong easterlies then strong winds from the west possible on Sunday."
Mr Duncan describes the low as a wet and tropical end to Summer.
"Summer officially ends on Saturday and that's when we expect this storm to peak over most northern regions. Heavy rain, high humidity and temperatures in the late 20s are all expected. Summer will end on a wet, tropical, note."
For further updates go to: weatherwatch.co.nz
- NEWSTALK ZB
