Your weather: Rain to hit during Bledisloe Cup decider at Eden Park tonight

All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams signs autographs at a training session at Eden Park ahead of today's Bledisloe Cup decider. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Rugby fans should stay dry for the Black Ferns' game against the Wallaroos at Eden Park tonight, but rain is due to set in just after the second Bledisloe Cup test kicks off.

A sold-out crowd is expected for the double-header at the Auckland stadium, where the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos will battle for the Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy from 5pm, followed by the crucial Wallabies v All Blacks match from 7.35pm.

This afternoon Auckland would be dry but a rain band was set to move in from the west at about 8pm, MetService forecaster Angus Hines said.

"If you are heading down to the matches I would advise you bring a raincoat because it may be dry when you leave but it does look like showers will be kicking off during the evening."

Two cold fronts were rapidly making their way north from the South Island today, bringing "relatively brief but intense" weather including cold winds, rain and snow, Hines said.

The impact would hit late today in the upper North Island after a mild, cloudy day.

The lower North Island would have rough conditions this afternoon: strong winds, cold and rain, with snowfall possible to 500m in the evening in the Remutaka Ranges.

Heavy rain and gale warnings are in place for the South Island and the lower North Island.

The MetService warned surface flooding, slips and rapidly rising rivers were possible in the Tararua Ranges and driving in the area could be hazardous, as 70mm to 100mm of rain was likely between 9am and 9pm today.

Road snow warnings are in place for most of the country. Lewis Pass, Porters Pass, Lindis Pass and Crown Range Rd are all likely to be affected by snow during the day, while later the Desert Rd and the Napier-Taupō Rd can expect snow tonight.

Severe frost and black ice are also possible in the lower South Island where cold winds will keep temperatures below 0degC overnight, Hines said.

Sunday's forecast is looking more positive. Most of the country looks fine by the afternoon as the frontal system pulls away.

Gusty southerly change this weekend! 🌬️

When will it reach your neighbourhood? 👇 pic.twitter.com/iozFOV4NFJ

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) August 16, 2019

Today's weather

Whangārei
Mostly cloudy, the odd shower. Rain developing evening. Northwesterlies. High 18C, Low 10C

Auckland
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Rain developing evening. Northwesterlies. High 17C, Low 8C

Hamilton
A few showers turning to rain in the evening. Northwesterlies dying out evening. High 16C, Low 6C

Tauranga
Increasing cloud with chance shower or two. Rain developing evening. Northwesterlies dying out at night. High 17C, Low 6C

New Plymouth
Showers turning to persistent rain afternoon, clearing at night. Northwesterlies changing strong southeast evening. High 15C, Low 6C

Napier
High cloud. Rain developing evening as northwest changes strong southerly. High 19C, Low 5C

Whanganui
The odd shower turning to rain afternoon, then easing evening. Northwesterlies change gusty southeast around evening. High 16C, Low 4C

Wellington
Rain developing late morning, briefly heavy, as strong northwest changes southerly. Easing to a few showers by evening, but winds rising to gale. High 13C, Low 5C

Nelson
Morning rain, then easing to a chance shower until evening. Strong northwest easing by afternoon, changing gusty southeast evening. High 13C, Low 0C

Christchurch
Rain easing to few showers afternoon. Snow to about 500 metres for Banks Peninsula. Southerlies, strong at times. High 10C, Low 2C

Dunedin
Rain easing to a few showers morning. Strong southerlies, easing by evening. High 9C, Low 3C