A burst of heavy rain is coming for nothern NZ on Sunday.  A small Tasman Sea low looks likely to bring rain – sometimes heavy – to the upper North Island, including Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula – with the risk extending into BOP and parts of Waikato.

While farmers will be smiling, campers will not – with many only just heading away.

The good news for holidaymakers is that both the heavy rain and the overal wet weather won’t linger.

MetService says as of 8am Saturday that the low currently appears to fall short of rain warning criteria.

WeatherWatch.co.nz agrees although points out that the low will slow down as it moves southwards (and weaken) while running into higher pressure – this could allow rain to linger longer in a few areas north of Taupo.

But as Sunday wears on the rain should wear out.

There is the risk of an isolated thunderstorm on Sunday morning.

On Monday rain eases to showers with New Years Eve still tipped to be mainly dry across New Zealand.

For northern New Zealand dry but sometimes cloudy weather is expected from Tuesday until Friday.

Campers and trampers should be aware of rapidly rising streams on Sunday with the downpours moving in – they may be somewhat tropical in nature due to the humid northerly flow – however temperatures are not expected to be especially hot with highs in the low 20’s.

– Image / Big downpours earlier this month in Auckland, Zach Knight

– WeatherWatch.co.nz