A storm is rapidly developing northwest of New Zealand prompting MetService to issue several rain warnings.

The warnings cover Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne,

See all current warnings here.

MetService says a low in the northwest Tasman Sea is forecast to deepen and move towards New Zealand allowing a band of heavy rain and northeast gales to sweep over northern New Zealand on Sunday night and Monday.

Streams and rivers will rise quickly and there could be surface flooding in low lying areas. The combination of heavy rain and gales are likely to make driving hazardous, cause slips in hilly areas and damage trees and powerlines.

Forecasters expect this low to cover the country and entire eastern Tasman Sea by Monday night and during Tuesday spreading gales and prolonged heavy easterly rain further south.

WeatherWatch.co.nz expects more rain warnings to be issued for both the North and South Islands.

MetService warns that widespread severe weather is expected and urge people to keep up to date with weather forecasts.

In Northland, north Auckland and Great Barrier Island rain and northeast gales are forecast to spread south on Sunday evening, becoming heavy at night and before easing on Monday morning. 60 to
90mm is expected about the hills, says MetService. 

In Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay, rain and northeast gales are expected to spread east on Sunday night and Monday morning and ease in the afternoon or evening. Expect 100 to 150mm of rain near the ranges with the heaviest falls in the north of the Gisborne region, and 30 to 70mm in many low lying areas.