A heavy rain watch has been extended over most of Auckland this morning. 

Heavy rain is continuing to hose down on the top of the country this morning, with Northland working through a 24-hour deluge forecast to dump up to 150mm. 

Downpours and possible thunderstorms are also expected for northern Auckland with up to 120mm of rain in the 16 hours to 3pm. 

MetService updated its yellow heavy rain watch, in force from 7am until 1pm, to cover areas of Auckland north of Papakura amid ongoing downpours overnight. 

An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for eastern Northland south of Kawakawa until midnight tonight, with intense downpours of up to 40mm/h possible, and the risk of thunderstorms, flooding and rapidly rising rivers. 

Eastern Auckland, north of Whangaparāoa, is also under a 16-hour orange heavy rain warning, ending mid-afternoon. 

Between 80-120mm of rain is expected, with a chance of downpours up to 40 mm per hour, and possible thunderstorms. 

After a week that brought destructive rain and strong winds to central parts of the country, a more settled stretch of weather is on its way for the Anzac Day long weekend, though temperatures are expected to feel increasingly wintry. 

MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said New Zealand would be “under the influence of a ridge of high pressure” in the coming days. 

“Most places will enjoy sunny spells, although mornings will be cold with frost possible in some inland areas.” 

Despite the calmer outlook, Magwala said weak systems could still bring isolated showers to parts of the eastern North Island, particularly north of Hawke’s Bay, later today. 

“The South Island will also enjoy ridge conditions and more settled weather for most places, except the far south where a cold front is brushing through,” he said. 

Auckland is forecast to reach a high of about 16C today, with southerly winds expected to keep the morning feeling cool. 

After being thrown into local states of emergency this week, Wellington and the Wairarapa are expected to see largely fine conditions today, with only some passing cloud forecast. 

A high of 15C is forecast for the capital. 

Severe weather warnings and watches 

In addition to the warning in eastern Northland, eastern Auckland, north of Whangaparāoa, is under an orange heavy rain warning until 3pm. 

The same warning applies to Great Barrier Island until 2pm. 

Though Magwala said there was only a “slim chance” the warnings would be upgraded to red level, locals were still encouraged to clear their drains and gutters to prevent flooding. 

A heavy rain watch is place for the Coromandel (north of Whitianga) until 10am, and for Northland (excluding south of Kaitāia) until midnight. 

Outlook for the long weekend 

MetService meteorologist John Law said most regions were likely to remain dry during tomorrow’s Anzac Day dawn services. 

“Dawn services are looking mostly dry, but it will be a cold start, especially inland,” he said. 

“Waiōuru is set to be one of the coldest spots, with temperatures around 1C at daybreak.” 

Canterbury and Otago are predicted to be the warmest parts of the country this weekend, with Dunedin expected to reach about 22C tomorrow. 

MetService said that was around 5C above the seasonal average. 

Looking to Monday, Law said: “There will be a few showers moving into Southland and parts of the West Coast, but for many – especially those recently hit by severe weather – it will be a welcome break."