It could be a wet end to the working week for the top of the country, with MetService issuing severe thunderstorm watches for Auckland and Northland.
The watches were in place for nine hours from midday.
"There is a moderate risk that thunderstorms will become severe during Friday afternoon and evening in southwestern parts of Northland (south of Kaitaia and Whangārei) and Auckland.
"Severe thunderstorms will produce localised downpours with rainfall rates of 25 to 40 mm per hour."
The agency warned there could potentially be surface or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys.
"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain."
It's also set to be a muggy day, 1News weather presenter Erin Conroy told Breakfast, with some regions hitting 30C.
"We're seeing this really warm airflow just take charge, and it's drawing this moist air down from the tropics. And add in the rain and showers, it's kind of those prime frizzy-hair conditions."
Temperatures would be high in the east today, with Hastings hitting 30C and 28C in Christchurch and Ashburton.
"That is set to stick around, especially in the east for some of the weekend.
"That's 10 degrees above where we'd normally be. It's set to peak today, but that is dropping off a little bit over the weekend, but still some warm spots for sure."
How is the weather looking for election day?
1News weather presenter Erin Conroy tells Breakfast voters should get out early if they want to stay dry. (Source: Breakfast)
Conroy said the best way to avoid a wet voting experience was to "get out early".
She said the South Island was the "pick of the bunch", with rain in the west and scattered showers elsewhere – possibly turning heavy for Nelson and Marlborough.
"They could even spark up a bit of thunder and lightning there. The bottom of the south is probably the pick of the bunch for election day."
It would be a "messy day" for the North Island, Conroy said.
"If you're in the lower North, the advice is to get out early and vote. It's a bit drier there, but we've got some quite heavy rain over the top of the North Island, and that's working down through the day."
The top of the North Island might get a bit of a break, but rain could intensify through the day.
"We're looking at some pretty and some potential thunderstorms through that.
"It could be an interesting voting experience."
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