Parts of New Zealand could see more than one shot at heavy rain this week.

For tonight and tomorrow, the highest risk will like across the Bay of Plenty, eastern ranges of the Waikato, western Nelson and Waitaki, Dunedin and Clutha Districts.  There is also a risk for southern Canterbury, but at this time it’s not as high as the other regions.

On Tuesday, another round of heavy rain is possible for the Bay of Plenty and eastern Otago.  Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury could also see heavy rain.  In fact, Government forecast MetService cautions that southern Canterbury and eastern Otago could require warnings for Tuesday.

On Wednesday, another round of heavy rain is possible for Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Marlborough.

On Thursday, the Bay of Plenty and East Cape/Gisborne could see heavy rainfall again.

On Friday, Hawkes Bay could once again see some heavy rainfall.

This does not mean it will be raining all the time all week long.  Even about the Bay of Plenty where there are numerous chances for heavy rain this week, a constant rainfall is not expected.  But there will be multiple chances for heavy rain.  When you get that many rounds of heavy rain over a short period of time (like days or a week), it all adds up.

We are already seeing that issue in eastern Waikato and Bay of Plenty for tonight and tomorrow.  Saturated ground from last weeks heavy rain has made it more likely that slips and surface flooding will occur in these areas.

This is all being caused by a very stubborn, very large Tasmanian low that will be in a hurry to go nowhere.  It’s likely this same low will affect our weather for at least the next 8 days.

Homepage image/ Mike Condon

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph