UPDATED 1.24pm - new watches in place

Northland Region

-Heavy Rain Watch-

Period: 10hrs from 1pm - 11pm Wed, 2 Oct

Area: Northland

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Localised downpours possible, especially from evening. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

-Severe Thunderstorm Watch-

Period: 9hrs from 8pm Wed, 2 Oct - 5am Thu, 3 Oct

Area: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island

Forecast: A series of active fronts preceded by a strong and moist northeast flow move onto northern parts of the North Island from this afternoon, reaching Auckland tonight.

About Northland and Auckland (including Great Barrier Island), there is a moderate risk of some thunderstorms being severe between 8pm Wednesday and 5am Thursday, producing localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.

This risk should ease in Northland around 2am. Note, these downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms.

Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. Some of these thunderstorms may also be squally, and produce strong wind gusts of 80 to 100 km/h or possiblly stronger.

Wind gusts of this strength can cause some damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous.

Warkworth / Rodney Region

-Severe Thunderstorm Watch -

Period:  9hrs from 8pm Wed, 2 Oct - 5am Thu, 3 Oct

Area:  Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island

Forecast:  A series of active fronts preceded by a strong and moist northeast flow move onto northern parts of the North Island from this afternoon, reaching Auckland tonight.

About Northland and Auckland (including Great Barrier Island), there is a moderate risk of some thunderstorms being severe between 8pm Wednesday and 5am Thursday, producing localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.

This risk should ease in Northland around 2am. Note, these downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms.

Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. Some of these thunderstorms may also be squally, and produce strong wind gusts of 80 to 100 km/h or possiblly stronger.

Wind gusts of this strength can cause some damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous.

-Strong Wind Watch-

Period: 9hrs from 11pm Wed, 2 Oct - 8am Thu, 3 Oct

Area: Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula

Forecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.