Updated 11:15am — Wondering why it’s so calm and has been so sunny in Auckland this morning, when all forecasters are talking about rain, showers and wind?  That’s due to the centre of the low now crossing right over the top of the city.

Just further south in Hamilton there’s been heavy rain with hail falling on the outer edges of the low.

And showers, some heavy, are still moving into Northland on the northern fringes of the centre.

As we head through the day more showers are popping up again around Auckland. Winds will pick up – and be colder  – from south to south east.

Meanwhile rain is now setting into dry parts of the North Island’s east coast and will continue to fall over the next day or two – although the heaviest falls will move around a bit it’s one to monitor if you live there.

Rain in Waikato and other central North Island areas should ease to showers this morning.

And it’s not just dry Hawkes Bay enjoying some rain – drought hit parts of North Canterbury are also seeing isolated downpours this morning although they have becoming lighter and even more isolated in the past hour or two.

– Image / 9am wind map shows the low right over Auckland (see the animated version on our homepage)

– WeatherWatch.co.nz