Heavy rain is falling over Northland as we head into Wednesday afternoon and the rain band is now heading south.

So far Auckland has had patchy rain off and and on with a blustery northerly.

Heavier rain is likely in the next couple of hours as the system moves south.

Heavy rain is falling across Taranaki and Wanganui, where there are currently rain warnings.

Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, two other regions with rain warnings in force at present,  are also seeing heavy rain bands moving in with more expected later today or tonight.

But it remains warm outside.  A string of 16s and 17s cover the upper North Island with 19 in Gisborne this hour.  In stark contrast Dunedin has just 2 degrees.