A low that’s occupying much of the Tasman Sea will spread the second of several new rain bands today across the country prompting a number of heavy rain warnings for northern regions across both islands.

MetService is predicting heavy rain in Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne the Nelson and the latest region, Northland.

The rain warnings are mostly for Friday and could see up to 200mm of rain in eastern parts of Bay of Plenty, East Cape and the Gisborne Ranges.

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Overnight heavy rain fell in Nelson with plenty more still in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan says the main concern is where the water will go in places already saturated from recent rain. “Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula plus a number of other regions have had plenty of rain lately, the ground is wet and muddy and further rain will simply have to run straight off it or pool”.

Mr Duncan says there’s a chance for flooding especially in Northland and to a lesser extent Auckland. “Northland has recently had flooding rains and further rain may cause complications.  Coromandel Peninsula has had a week of torrential rain this week and more heavy rain will also be of concern”.

“Around Auckland lawns and fields are mushy and further heavy rain could cause surface flooding in some low lying areas or valleys.  “.

Along with the rain WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts heavy falls with isolated thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are especially likely in Northland from late Friday to early Saturday.

With several fronts on the way over the next days some northern and western regions may not see a dry spell until early next week.

“Because there are so many fronts and the system is so slow moving it’s hard to pinpoint exact times of rain setting in but certainly northern and western New Zealand will be in for a few periods of heavy rain between tonight and Sunday morning”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will have regular updates across Friday and the weekend as this low moves through, plus more details on the southerly change expected behind it for early next week.

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