From Northland and Auckland to Wellington and Wairarapa, numerous rain and wind warnings have this morning been issued for much of the North Island as a sub-tropical low kicks into gear.

The low, which WeatherWatch.co.nz predicted for Anzac Day a week ago, is still deepening north of New Zealand.  However with a high to the east and a new one moving in from the south west this low isn’t going anywhere fast.

“We saw this low in the computer models last week and our first concern was the cradling affect of the two highs around it” said head weather analyst Philip Duncan this morning.  “The low is trapped in the northern Tasman Sea with walls of high air pressure around it.  The rain bands will be very slow moving and rainfall amounts will be high enough to potentially cause slips and flooding”

Mr Duncan says particularly those returning home from Coromandel Peninsula may want to do so earlier today rather than later. “The rain around Coromandel will set in tonight and slips and flooding could cause road closures overnight tonight and into Tuesday”.

Widespread slips are still visible around Coromandel Peninsulal from numerous wet weather events this year thanks to La Nina.

Rainfall rates are expected to increase as the day wears on making driving extremely hazardous says WeatherWatch.co.nz.  Their current travel forecasts rates driving conditions in the North Island as “poor” today in their Easter Travel Forecast.  A poor rating indicates uncomfortable and dangerous driving conditions.

The squash zone between this low and the surrounding highs will also create severe gales, making for some turbulence later in the day and into Tuesday for flights over the North Island.

Here are the warnings by Metservice in their entirety as of 9:26am Monday.

Northland

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Northland Heavy rain is expected to spread over Northland during Monday afternoon. In the 18 hours from noon Monday till 6am Tuesday, expect 80 to 120mm of rain. The heaviest falls are likely to be about the eastern hill country. Rainfall intensities may reach 25mm/hr during Monday night.

Auckland

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Auckland Rain is expected to become heavier Monday afternoon. In the 15 hours from 3pm Monday to 6am Tuesday, expect 60 to 100mm of rain, with the heaviest falls being in eastern parts of Auckland. Rainfall rates may reach 20mm/hr during Monday night.

Waikato

No warning in force for this location

Waitomo

No warning in force for this location

Coromandel

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Coromandel Peninsula Rain is expected to become heavier Monday evening. In the 15 hours from 6pm Monday to 9am Tuesday, expect 100 to 150mm of rain. Rainfall rates may reach 25-30mm/hr at times during Tuesday.

Bay Of Plenty

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Bay of Plenty Rotorua Rain is forecast to become heavy this evening. In the 18 hours from 6pm Monday till noon Tuesday, expect 100-120mm. Heaviest falls overnight, when intensities could reach 25-30mm/hr Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, thecentral high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Taumarunui

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, the central high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Rotorua

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Bay of Plenty Rotorua Rain is forecast to become heavy this evening. In the 18 hours from 6pm Monday till noon Tuesday, expect 100-120mm. Heaviest falls overnight, when intensities could reach 25-30mm/hr Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, thecentral high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Taupo

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, the central high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Tongariro

No warning in force for this location

Taihape

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, the central high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Gisborne

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay north of Napier Rain is forecast to become heavy tonight. In the 30 hours from 6pm Monday till midnight Tuesday, expect 150-200mm. The heaviest rain is likely during Tuesday morning and afternoon when peak intensities of 25-35mm/hr are possible. Please note that further southeasterly rain is expected after this period, and that this warning is likely to be extended.

Hawkes Bay

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay north of Napier Rain is forecast to become heavy tonight. In the 30 hours from 6pm Monday till midnight Tuesday, expect 150-200mm. The heaviest rain is likely during Tuesday morning and afternoon when peak intensities of 25-35mm/hr are possible. Please note that further southeasterly rain is expected after this period, and that this warning is likely to be extended.

Wairarapa

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range Heavy rain has already fallen in these areas, and further heavy falls are forecast. In the 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Monday, expect another 40-70mm. Peak intensities up to 20mm/hr this morning.

Taranaki

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range Heavy rain has already fallen in these areas, and further heavy falls are forecast. In the 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Monday, expect another 40-70mm. Peak intensities up to 20mm/hr this morning. Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, thecentral high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Wanganui

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, the central high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Manawatu

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range Heavy rain has already fallen in these areas, and further heavy falls are forecast. In the 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Monday, expect another 40-70mm. Peak intensities up to 20mm/hr this morning. Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, thecentral high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Horowhenua

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range Heavy rain has already fallen in these areas, and further heavy falls are forecast. In the 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Monday, expect another 40-70mm. Peak intensities up to 20mm/hr this morning. Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Eastern Bay of Plenty, thecentral high country, across to Taranaki and south to Levin Southeast winds are forecast to strengthen overnight tonight and Tuesday morning. From 9am Tuesday till midnight Tuesday, expect southeast winds to reach severe gale in exposed places with gusts to 120 km/h.

Wellington

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range Heavy rain has already fallen in these areas, and further heavy falls are forecast. In the 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Monday, expect another 40-70mm. Peak intensities up to 20mm/hr this morning.