Rainband should soon clear Auckland, leaving occasional showers. Rainfall for Xmas Eve reached 63.8mm at Auckland Airport (and up to 95mm at some other places), making it the 3rd wettest December day since Airport records started in 1962. ^AG pic.twitter.com/nLIwxB1MzA
Parts of Auckland received up to 95mm of rain in the past 18 hours. From about 9pm to 10pm yesterday there was a particularly heavy downpour of about 20mm.
Isolated parts of the Bay of Plenty were inundated with more than 100mm of rain in the past 18 hours.
Waihi Beach was hit particularly hard. Heavy rain yesterday caused flooding and forced 150 campers to be evacuated from the holiday park.
That meant Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and parts of Waikato would get some showers today, possible heavy in the afternoon, and temperatures in the low to mid 20s.
Heavy rain warnings overnight for Northland and Coromandel had ended, but a warning was still out for the Bay Of Plenty, including Rotorua, and Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards to 10am.
The lower North Island down to Christchurch can expect some showers and rain spreading south during the day.
Rain is in store for much of the North Island through the day today. Photo / File
The South Island south of Christchurch is set to bask in glorious barbecue weather for Christmas Day, with fine, dry weather and temperatures cracking 30C.
From tomorrow, a low would start moving east as a ridge built over the country, bringing a period of more settled weather.
Boxing Day in the upper North Island was looking mostly fine with temperatures in the mid-20s.
The South Island was in for a cloudy day in the east but fine in the west.
Thursday is looking fine in the west of the North Island with just a few showers expected in the ranges in the east, while the South Island would see some showers on the West Coast.
Friday was looking good for most of the country with just some scattered rain.
Today's weather
Whangārei: Showers, some heavy and possibly thundery, easing evening with fresh southwest change. 24C high, 17C overnight.
Auckland: Fine spells. Showers from afternoon, some heavy and possibly thundery, easing evening with fresh southwest change. 23C high, 17C overnight.
Hamilton: Showers, some heavy and possibly thundery, clearing at night. Northeasterlies dying out evening. 23C high, 15C overnight.
Tauranga: Morning rain then showers. Heavy at times, with possible thunderstorms. Fresh northerlies easing. 23C high, 17C overnight.
New Plymouth Rain turning to showers morning, some heavy and possibly thundery, then easing evening. Winds turning southwesterly. 22C high, 15C overnight.
Napier: Morning rain, then showers, possibly heavy and thundery. Northeasterlies dying out afternoon. 25C high, 16C overnight.
Whanganui: Rain turning to showers afternoon and winds turning southwest. 24C high, 16C overnight.
Christchurch: A cloudy day, but afternoon fine breaks. Chance light rain in the morning. Northeast winds, then lighter southerlies from evening. 20C high, 12C overnight.
