Auckland commuters face a damp journey home with “chunky” showers expected through rush hour as a large rain band comes in from the west, MetService says.

Wet conditions are expected from around 2pm, continuing through to around sundown, MetService meteorologist Alec Holden said.

There was also a slight chance of thunderstorms, Holden said.

No weather warnings or watches had been issued, but every Aucklander was likely to be affected – albeit to varying degrees.

“[We’ll have] showers that produce fairly heavy rainfall in some areas.”

Most of the foul weather was likely to hit between 4pm and 7pm, Holden said.

The MetService rain radar forecast showing expected conditions over the North Island at 7pm today. Image / MetService

“No flash flooding, but I think everybody’s going to see a little bit and definitely some people are going to see more than others ... [but] somewhere in that [time period] is when you’re going to see the worst of it, with some heavy cells mixed in with the showers.”

The front was expected to move rapidly across the North Island today, MetService forecaster Juliane Bergdolt earlier told the Herald.

“We’re expecting rain to fall over central areas from Hawke’s Bay up to Auckland and Northland in the ... mid-afternoon and it’s all sort of clearing quite quickly in behind,” Bergdolt said.

Meanwhile, thunderstorms were starting to occur in the southeast of the South Island early this afternoon.

A severe thunderstorm watch was in place until 9pm, with the risk of localised heavy rain of 10-25 mm/h and 5-20mm hail, MetService posted on social media.

While the heavy rain would clear for the North Island, showers were expected into tomorrow – a relief for those in dry regions.

“That rain will be welcomed for many, as recent hot and dry conditions have seen water restrictions and elevated fire risk for places like the Hawke’s Bay,” Bergdolt said.

Although summer was in full swing, daytime highs were set to plunge this week, with some places – including Wellington, Dannevirke, Ashburton, Ōamaru and Invercargill – reaching only 16C tomorrow.

Throughout tomorrow and Thursday, many places would struggle to make it into the 20s as southwesterlies kept a lid on temperatures.

This comes after a week of sizzling temperatures, which were felt across the country as Auckland hit 28C, Napier Airport 34C and Wairoa 32C.

Hot temperatures in the 30s have been prevalent in parts of the country, including Hawke's Bay in the last few weeks, prompting people to flock to swimming hotspots. Photo / Warren Buckland

The cool shift was caused by the front moving over the country, MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.

The country was moving into a more “variable, unsettled and showery weather pattern”.

Christmas Day is nearly a week away and with the country settling into a more changeable pattern, the longer-range forecasts are likely to change in the lead-up to the big day, Lynden said.

“While it might feel like we are headed for a ‘white Christmas’ for some this week, it’s worth remembering that we’re still firmly in summer.”