For the first time in months rain is being predicted from top of the country to the bottom – the top, where it’s desperately needed, and the bottom where ‘enough is enough’.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will have extra updates across today as we monitor the torrential rain pounding the South Island and the hopeful rain bands moving in to parched regions in the north.

We’ll also keep you up to date with the latest lightning predictions with MetService predicting a moderate chance of thunderstorms along the west coast of New Zealand and a  “high” chance about Auckland and Northland later today.

Watch our free and live lightning tracker here

See all current rain warnings here

We also want to hear with you – share the weather conditions at your place with our WeatherWatch.co.nz readers by placing a comment below.