
West Coast residents without power as rivers rise, fresh warnings for North Island
There are rain and wind alerts for Tasman, Taranaki and Wellington.
There are rain and wind alerts for Tasman, Taranaki and Wellington.
The major weather system is set to bring days of heavy rain and strong winds.
A front headed for the west of New Zealand will sour the sunshine of the early week.
A moisture-packed system is set to saturate much of NZ, with warnings likely to be issued.
It is expected to be drier than normal for the first half of April.
Multiple areas in the central North Island may see frost this morning.
Metservice has predicted a slightly wet start to the long weekend.
MetService advises holidaymakers and locals to keep an eye on weather alerts this weekend.
MetService National Weather: March 27th - April 1st. Video / Metservice
The sun has shone for St Patrick's Day festivities, but cool nights lie ahead.
MetService is calling this the 'coldest weekend of the year so far'.
Daytime temperatures could drop by 10 degrees by the weekend.
MetService National Weather: March 12th - 16th. Video / Metservice
March is about to feel more like May, as a polar surge brings chilly weekend temperatures.
Much of the North Island lies under a severe electrical storm watch until 6pm.
MetService Severe Weather: Monday March 4th Video / MetService
Metservice said anything above 6mm of rain an hour was considered heavy rain.
A smattering of severe weather watches have been issued with more possible.
MetService says the storm could hit the South Island on Sunday evening, move up on Monday.
Taylor's 'Midnight Rain' has crossed the Tasman, but Hawke's Bay may be lucky.
Meteorologist's gloomy forecast spells doom for cricket fans today.
MetService Severe Weather: 19th - 21st February. Video / Metservice
Wind gusts of up to 130km/h will strike parts of the country today.
Temperatures will be "above average" for the North Island to start the week.
MetService National Weather: February 12th-14th.
New Zealand recorded its hottest day in over three years yesterday, almost reaching 37C.
Forecasters warn heavy showers and thunderstorms might 'enhance' gusts.