Tens of thousands took advantage of the sun during another event-filled Auckland weekend.

The eastern seaboard is still being battered by a polar vortex and the sinisterly named Siberian Express blast from the Arctic that have combined to bring record lows.

The Government has no immediate plans to declare drought in areas of the country suffering from extremely dry conditions.

Severe thunderstorms may hit Dunedin, North Otago and Clutha this afternoon bringing heavy rain and hail as large as 20mm to some areas, MetService warns.

Weather warnings for strong wind and rain are in place as a front bringing foul weather makes its way up the country.

Cowper Street residents were today cleaning up the aftermath of a "phenomenal" wind that struck before dawn this morning.

Strong wind gusts of up to 140km/h are barrelling up the country felling trees, power lines and lifting roofs, emergency services say.

Bad weather in the North Island has temporarily delayed the Prime Minister's campaign day in Rotorua.

The top of the North Island continues to cop wet weather as a band of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms moves south from Northland towards Auckland.

Northland has been warned that more flooding and slips could occur with heavy rain and severe gales forecasted over the weekend.

The central North Island has woken to a winter wonderland this morning, with a fresh dumping of snow proving a boost for skiers but a bane for motorists.

It is a wet day across the country today, and most places can expect to be hit by rain or showers.

The Civil Defence has warned Northland to prepare for further flooding as heavy rain and gale force winds lash the region again this weekend.

A group of school girls and their two instructors have been rescued after spending a night in the Waikato bush when they became trapped by a rising river.

The search for a woman missing in Waitangi River floodwaters since early this morning has been suspended. It will resume tomorrow morning.

Torrential rain caused flooding and closed roads in Auckland and Waiheke this afternoon, with a number of people having to be rescued from rising floodwaters.

Some Aucklanders remain without hot water after Tuesday's damaging storm.

A quartet of excited teenagers camped out under picnic tables overnight to earn the bragging rights of enjoying New Zealand's first snow powder this year.

Blustery gales have knocked out power to 1600 properties in the Wairarapa today.

The El Nino weather event predicted to dump rain on the West Coast this year could actually help the rapidly retreating glaciers, according to a scientist.

A brief hail storm that covered the ground in Whangarei seemed to come out of nowhere, said a long-time resident.

Dozens of residents in pockets around Auckland remain without hot water following last week's bruising storm, while 500 homes on the West Coast still have no power.

Auckland residents who went without hot water for four days can finally take warm showers again, but some remain upset at how the issue has been handled.

Some Auckland residents have made a cold and dirty start to the long weekend, after being without hot water since Thursday night.