A large area of rain associated with a sub-tropical low is still moving in towards the upper North Island – but as predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz the wind angle has again turned to a drier south easterly.

However the rain band itself seems better organised than last weekend – the rain covers a greater area and, as the models had suggested, it is much closer to land this time around.

In Auckland it is almost identical to last Saturday with other forecasters predicting rain setting in  while WeatherWatch.co.nz continues with a mostly dry morning and just a few spits or light showers.  In the afternoon the winds become less favourable for rain in Auckland but at the same time the rain band itself moves closer.  A bit like one step forward and one step back.

This rain will now have to combat the Coromandel and Kaimai ranges before it can drop rain over the city.

This is why so far today it’s been mostly spits and patchy light showers in the city – and mainly dry.

So this afternoon the clouds will darken further – drizzly showers may give way to more substantial rain for some areas especially eastern Northland and northern Coromandel Peninsula (and potentially a few parts of Auckland, especially well in to the north) late morning and into this afternoon.

There is another shot at rain tomorrow for those who might miss out today. It’s unusual to be writing about needing rain in the middle of winter but some parts of northern New Zealand – like Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato – need a solid day of rain after a dry winter so far.  

On Sunday the winds swing around from the south west and some heavy showers will affect parts of western NZ.

– image / File, A cloudy day in Te Atatu Peninsula with the threat of rain / Joy Elley

– WeatherWatch.o.nz