Your weather: North Island cops rain and showers after heavy dump in Westland

Much of the North Island is expected to have a wet day. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Workers and school students face a wet commute around much of the country this morning.

And the rain and showers will persist in most areas as a front which dumped heavy rain on parts of Westland overnight sweeps over the North Island today.

In Auckland, rain and showers set in from soon after 5am and some heavy, possibly thundery, downpours are expected this afternoon.

The West Coast glaciers region, damaged by last week's flooding, was doused with a further 150mm of rain in the 24 hours to 7.30am and the Hokitika area received nearly 40mm, said MetService meteorologist April Clark.

"The worst is over for the West Coast. We have a heavy rain warning still in force for northwest Nelson."

Auckland: The northeasterlies are bringing in some decent rain showers this morning, before a burst of heavier, possibly thundery, rain this afternoon and evening. A good day to keep an eye on the radar at https://t.co/7k3nmdWQwx ^GG pic.twitter.com/G39EZFbMlg

— MetService (@MetService) March 31, 2019

A heavy rain watch remains in place for much of the central North Island, from the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Peninsula to Taranaki, plus the Tararua Range, Nelson, northwest Marlborough, Buller and Westland north of Otira. From Waikato to Taupō and Tongariro National Park the watch is for a later period, from 3pm to midnight.

Severe Weather Watch issued for CORO, WKATO, WTOMO, BOP, ROTR, TAUPO, TMNUI, TAIHP, TNAKI, FIORD, STHLD, STEW https://t.co/MJmRyAGfGd

— Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) March 31, 2019

Clark said Wellington was being buffeted by winds gusting at up to 85km/h.

After the front has blown through, an autumn nip will send temperatures diving for a few days on the east coast of the South Island.

Day time highs are expected to be in the mid-teens and overnight lows drop as low as 3C in Blenheim and 5C in Christchurch.

Today's forecast:
Auckland - Showers turning to rain afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery, easing overnight.

Hamilton - Showers turning to rain afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery, easing overnight.

Wellington - Rain setting in, possibly heavy, clearing late afternoon. Northerly gales east.

Christchurch - Rain clearing this morning and becoming fine. Gale northerlies tend northwest. Showers return tonight.

Dunedin - Fine, but chance of a shower from afternoon.