Weather warnings have been upgraded across parts of the North Island as a subtropical low approaches from the Tasman, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and the risk of flooding.
It comes as Tropical Cyclones Vaianu closes schools and intensifies across Fiji, with MetService saying the remnants could possibly affect parts of New Zealand over the coming weekend.
MetService said the subtropical low was expected to approach the far north of the North Island overnight before tracking south, reaching the upper South Island by Tuesday evening.
An 18-hour heavy rain watch in Northland has been upgraded to an orange-level heavy rain warning, with 90 to 120mm of rain expected particularly in northern and eastern areas.
Peak intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour were possible during thunderstorms on Tuesday morning, according to MetService.
In a post shared to Facebook, Civil Defence Northland advised residents to prepare for the heavy conditions ahead.
"Use today to prepare your property and possessions, and take extreme care on the roads tomorrow, particularly in the morning when there is the possibility of surface flooding, debris and slips on the roads," it said.
A strong wind watch was also in place for Northland from 3am to 4pm Tuesday, with east to northeast winds potentially reaching severe gale in exposed areas.
Further south, a heavy rain watch was issued for Auckland, mainly north of Papakura, and Great Barrier Island between 9am and 9pm Tuesday. The Coromandel Peninsula was also under a heavy rain watch from midday Tuesday to 3am Wednesday.
A 27-hour rain watch was in place from 3pm Tuesday to 6pm Wednesday for the Bay of Plenty, particularly west of Whakatāne including Rotorua, with a high chance of upgrading to warning-level rainfall.
Rain was expected to spread further east later in the week, with areas about and east of Whakatāne under a watch from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning.
In the South Island, Tasman northwest of Motueka was under a heavy rain watch overnight Tuesday into Wednesday as the system moved south.
People in affected areas were urged to stay up to date with forecasts, avoid low-lying areas and take care on the roads.
Tropical cyclone activity increases
The weather warnings come as activity from a pair of tropical cyclones in the South Pacific continues to intensify.
Category 2 system Tropical Cyclone Vaianu was named yesterday and was currently located about 600km northwest of Nadi, Fiji, bringing the possibility of heavy rain and flash flooding to the island nation.
Fiji's Education Ministry announced all schools in the region would close on Tuesday as the system strengthened.
"All students including boarders are to remain at home and the situation will be closely monitored with further advice to be issued accordingly," it said in a Facebook post.
Vaianu is expected to track southwest on Wednesday before turning south and moving out of the tropics by Thursday, continuing its southward path into Friday.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said forecasters were watching the system "very closely".
“At the moment, this looks like it could continue dropping south and come close to us for the weekend,” she said.
“There is still a fair bit of weather to play out before the remnants arrive, but it’s likely from late Friday or Saturday that we will start to see some impacts.”
Fiji Meteorological Service said Vaianu was expected to strengthen further, with the storm likely to upgrade to a Category 3 system.
Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila was currently slow-moving in the Solomon Sea, expected to track eastwards towards the Solomon Islands but remain over open waters.
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Northland - 18 hours from 10pm Monday to 4pm Tuesday
Heavy Rain Watch
Auckland (mainly north of Papakura) and Great Barrier Island - 12 hours from 9am to 9pm Tuesday
Coromandel Peninsula - 15 hours from 12pm Tuesday to 3am Wednesday
Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, including Rotorua - 27 hours from 3pm Tuesday to 6pm Wednesday
Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatane - 18 hours from 3pm to 9am Thursday
Tasman northwest of Motueka - 9pm Tuesday to 6am Wednesday
Strong Wind Watch
Northland - 13 hours from 3am to 4pm Tuesday
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