Winds in Auckland are picking up while steady rain is falling across many parts of the North Island already, ahead of the low pressure system approaching the country.

WeatherWatch.co.nz is now forecasting the low to track close to Auckland on Wednesday – but the severe weather for the upper North Island will arrive this afternoon and evening, ahead of the centre.

Latest rainfall data shows Whitianga is the wettest part of the country, receiving more than 2mm of rain this morning, while the worst is yet to come for the entire Coromandel region.

At this stage Coromandel Peninsula may be the region most exposed to severe weather, with the strongest winds and some of the heaviest rain hitting the area.

Winds are building in Auckland too, going from 20km/h to an average of 35km/h between 10 and 11am.

AUCKLAND
The Auckland region lies on the edge of the severe weather in Coromandel Peninsula and the severe weather in Northland. The centre of the low will actually cross Auckland City just after midnight tonight.

Rain could be heavy for a time on Tuesday afternoon – especially north of Albany and about the Waitakere Ranges. Winds may be the main feature of this system for Auckland, with gusts of 110km/h possible late Tuesday afternoon in exposed coastal areas of the east – in particular, WHANGAPARAOA, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, WAIHEKE ISLAND, HOWICK to HUNUA RANGES (coastal). It’s hard to say which suburbs will and wont get gales – but power cuts are possible in ANY suburb.

Even if not stormy where you are (which could be a big chunk of the city due to the georgraphy of the upper Norh Island) this is definitely a good reminder to have a Survival Kit. Visit Civil Defence for more info.

NORTHLAND
Northland is also exposed to this low with the centre of it making a direct hit to the region on Tuesday evening. Some of the heaviest rain may affect eastern Northland on Tuesday afternoon with a risk of surface and flash flooding – especially on top of the weekend’s thunderstorms. Strong to gale force winds are expected but severe gales may be limited only to exposed hills and exposed coastal areas in the east and south east. The westerly change behind the low later on Wednesday and into Thursday may be even stronger for Northland.

Thunderstorms?
No repeat of the weekends thunderstorms are in order – however any sub-tropical low could form a few thunderstorms here and there. Note, the thunderstorms on Saturday night were created, in part, by fairly calm weather. This will be anything but calm for much of the North Island.

How are conditions at your place? Are you starting to feel the approaching system already? Let us know in the comments.

-Weatherwatch