The recent miserable blast of bleak weather heralding the start of winter is expected to clear today.

But don’t put the umbrellas away just yet – a storm bringing not only more of the same but gale-force winds and the possibility of floods to drought-stricken regions in the North Island is on its way.

WeatherWatch.co.nz analyst Philip Duncan said conditions for the weekend in Auckland should be mostly settled and fine. But a slow-moving storm from the subtropics, bringing heavy rain and severe gales throughout the North Island, was likely to strike on Monday.

Mr Duncan warned people in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, eastern Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Cape and Wellington to be especially aware of the latest forecasts, weather warnings and news.

“The rain we have had in the last 24 hours was probably perfect – it started light and gradually got heavier in Auckland and Northland.

“But this is probably the absolute last thing farmers were wanting when they asked for rain … we may well be seeing droughts turn into floods,” he said.

MetService severe weather forecaster Erick Brenstrum said a burst of heavy rain was likely tomorrow night in drought-affected Northland and parts of Auckland, bringing between 50 to 100mm of rain.

Temperatures in Auckland should be around 17C.

“Obviously when you stand in the rain it doesn’t feel very warm but it’s still warmer than average.”

By James Ihaka | Email James

– NZHERALD.CO.NZ