Weather: Two weather systems to squeeze New Zealand; heavy rain for both ends of country

New Zealand will be squeezed between two weather systems at the end of the week, bringing strong winds and heavy showers to both ends of the country.

MetService said the strongest winds were forecast for the Far North, but the rest of Northland and Auckland are also in the firing line.

Windy Wednesday! (OK, and Thursday...)

The strongest winds are forecast for the Far North, but strong easterlies also affect the rest of Northland and Auckland during Wednesday and Thursday - it doesn't have to be a severe gale to be a noticeably windy day 🍃 pic.twitter.com/sNHAuNwxzM

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 11, 2026

Meteorologist Alain Baillie told the Herald that New Zealand was caught in a pincer movement today.

“We’ve got a low coming down from the north which is going to bring showery conditions to the north and west of the North Island through the afternoon and evening,” he said.

“We also have quite an active front moving onto the south of the South Island later in the day.”

In the North Island, Auckland, Northland, the Bay of Plenty, the Waikato and down to Taranaki will be wet from the afternoon, Baillie said.

“Central and eastern areas start pretty fine, but they will cloud over later in the day.”

🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watches have been issued for Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty, and Fiordland for Thursday evening to Friday morning 🌧️

🟡 The Yellow Strong Wind Watch for the Far North has been extended to midnight tonight (Wednesday) 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/W1FPJUnAeY

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 10, 2026

On Friday, Baillie said it would be wet across most of the country when the two weather systems converge.

A heavy rain watch is forecast to come into force for the Coromandel Peninsula from 6pm, lasting for 12 hours.

Another heavy rain watch is forecast to last from 10pm until 10am tomorrow for the Bay of Plenty, west of Kawerau.

In the South Island, a heavy rain watch is set to begin from 9pm and last until 5am.

Baillie said strong easterly winds were still forecast for the upper North Island today.

“It will be a complicated situation during the next few days. Showers for most places, especially on Friday for the upper North Island and the west of the South Island.”

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