A very slow moving band of rain is creeping up the South Island’s West Coast and is likely to move into the North Island late Wednesday and into Thursday and early Friday.

It’s possible some rain warnings will be issued.

MetService says the heaviest rain should be over the west and north of the South Island, the Tararua Range, and the central North Island Mountains and hill country.

“Heavy falls are also likely from Taupo across to the eastern Bay of Plenty ranges later on Thursday and on Friday morning, but confidence of warning amounts there is low”.

The crown forecasters also says there is a low risk of severe northerly gales on Thursday about the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington, and southern Wairarapa.

The forecast for the weekend remains sunny and dry for almost all of New Zealand