Multiple rain warnings are in force as a deepening low crosses the country over the next 24 hours bringing heavy rain to all four quarters of New Zealand.

The bulk of the rain is tracking through central New Zealand and the South Island – including Nelson which was hit by bad flash floods and slips two months ago.

As the low shifts from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean it will begin a rapid deepening and strengthening process, which will push more rain into the South Island’s east coast and well inland against the Southern Alps.

While gardeners and dairy farmers will be pleased with the rain, grain growers will be looking forward to drier weather – which will return by the weekend.

Meanwhile the upper North Island will see a mixture of rain and showers across Wednesday and Thursday – with a moderate risk of isolated thunder across northern and western regions of the North Island on Thursday as the end of the rain band moves through.

Humid conditions may make sleeping difficult for some tonight and tomorrow night – but a cooler, less humid, change will move in on Friday and Saturday – strengthened by the deepening low to the south east and a building high moving in from the south west.

This incoming high will settle things down again by Sunday and Monday for most of New Zealand.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz