A low pressure system has crossed Northland today bringing heavy downpours to the upper North Island over the past 24 hours with a slip closing State Highway 2 between Paeroa and Waihi. The detour goes via Matamata over the Kaimai Ranges. The Gorge is likely to remain closed for some time and the detour adds an hour for some motorists.

Downpours continue across Saturday in the upper North Island as this low continues to track past Great Barrier Island and eastwards over the Pacific Ocean (coming from the Tasman Sea yesterday).

Meanwhile a second low lies east of the South Island. It’s fairly weak but has pushed colder air in to the South Island today with snow showers down to a few hundred metres and drizzle and the odd shower to sea level.

On Sunday these two lows merge – but remain weak – east of New Zealand, bringing in slightly cooler southerlies further north into the North Island.

High pressure increases on Sunday but showers remain in the east of both islands.

– Satellite image data courtesy JMA.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz