It’s been a wet today for the lower North Island and upper South Island.

Showers and even a few thunderstorms made their way into central New Zealand just after sunrise this morning.

And have yet to leave.

Indications are that the western parts of both islands will continue to see an increase in precipitation.  Live Lightning Tracker shows that there are some strikes associated with the incoming bands of precipitation.  So there could be a few thunderstorms later this afternoon along the far western regions of the NI and upper SI.

Last hour, some of the places rain was being reported included Taupo, New Plymouth and Nelson.

Brief heavy rain is possible with the thunderstorms.  However, outside of the thunderstorms, widespread heavy rain is not expected for the rest of this afternoon.

Heavy rain is expected to return to Nelson tonight.  For that reason, Government forecaster MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Warning.

There is a threat for widespread heavy rain about Taranaki, western Bay of Plenty and East Cape tomorrow.  Marlborough and Canterbury could see heavy rain on Tuesday as the low moves off to our east.

By WeatherWatch.co.nz Analyst Howard Joseph