Widespread heavy rain predicted to start on the West Coast today and head into the North Island during Wednesday and Thursday is not what farmers will be wanting following several months of torrential rain events says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The new front isn’t especially wide, but it is long and is quickly growing in size , already stretching the length of the Tasman Sea.

Partially fuelled by sub-tropical air being pulled down from the north the rain band could have some very heavy parts to it – made worse by the slow departure of the high, currently over the North Island.

The front is right up against the western side of the high, meaning the front can only move as fast as the high does – and highs are often sluggish, as is this one.

It’s this slow moving nature that is causing concern for forecasters – as predictions of heavy rain again ring out across farms that have already had well above their average rainfall for this time of the year. 

Most exposed will be northern and western regions of both islands. 

We’ll have another update later today as the front moves in from the west.