UPDATED
The remnants of tropical cyclone Rene are expected to pass near northern and north eastern parts of the North Island on Thursday and Friday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the low will come very close to Northland and may even bring relief to dry areas.

Overnight the tropical cyclone was downgraded to category 1 strength.  WeatherWatch.co.nz believes Rene will lose its “tropical cyclone status” today as the storm continues to rapidly weaken.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan is being cautious in his predictions but says the low will have some impact on Northland and quite likely Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and East Cape.   “Ex-tropical cyclone Rene will bring in some rain to Northland along with very humid winds”.

Mr Duncan says humidity levels will peak on Thursday with most northern regions between 80 and 100% humidity.  “It’s going to be hot, sticky and damp for the next few days as Rene passes by – especially in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty”.

But despite the low being a former severe tropical cyclone severe weather isn’t predicted.  WeatherWatch.co.nz believes while it may be wet and a little windy it’s unlikely that weather warnings will be issued.  “The low is ‘filling in’ so it’s not as aggressive as it was before.  By the time it reaches New Zealand it will be a standard sub-tropical low…humid, cloudy and damp”.

MetService agrees with “low confidence” of conditions reaching rain warning criteria in eastern parts of Northland, Coromandel Peninsula and East Cape. 

However WeatherWatch.co.nz says bigger seas are still predicted for eastern beaches, particularly Northland on Thursday.