Thursday is looking like our most eventful day of Autumn 2016 so far – with a front crossing the North Island and rain moving across almost the whole country through the day.

Rain

Heavy falls are likely all the way from Northland down through to Taranaki and the Central North Island.
Taranaki and the Central North Island will probably see the most action, with torrential falls possible at times.
Rain then eases about Taranaki by midday, but further inland it may not ease until mid or late afternoon.
Eastern parts of the North Island may see a heavy fall or two, but not to the same extent.

The South Island may see some heavy rain first thing on the West Coast and about Nelson, but this should quickly ease.
In Canterbury, late afternoon or evening a southerly change pushes through, leading to a heavy shower or two, along with a low risk of some thunderstorms here and there.

Wind

Wind wise, northeasterlies are likely to be gusty and even strong ahead of this front over the North Island.
Winds may be especially strong (with a risk of gales) for eastern Northland, much of Auckland and much of the Bay of Plenty, then as the front pushes through and winds change to the west, naturally the strong northeasterlies will fade away.
It’ll fade about Northland first, then Auckland, and then other regions further east later in the day.
Banks Peninsula may see strong northeast winds first thing in the morning also, before these quickly ease away.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz

– Photo: Chris Johnson